Lennytheshark first, daylight second.
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That’s the expectation heading into Saturday night’s $60,000 PETstock Bendigo Pacing Cup.
Lennytheshark has a mortgage on the Cup, with some betting outlets having Australia’s best pacer as short as $1.04 for the Group Two event.
Lennytheshark has won the Inter-Dominion final and the Victoria Cup in his past three starts and victory on Saturday night at Lord’s Raceway would take his career earnings to the $1.75 million mark.
“He got through the Victoria Cup good and he should be good for tomorrow night,’’ Lennytheshark’s trainer David Aiken told RSN.
“He’s short, but there’s some nice horses there. He’s going well and he looks the winner, but it’s a horse race and anything can happen.
“The horse is fit and well and we know he’s a good horse… he should be hard to beat.”
Lennytheshark’s driver Chris Alford looks set to break the record for most Bendigo Pacing Cup wins.
Alford has three wins in the Cup – Knight Rainbow in 1995, Tailamade Lombo in 2000 and Im Corzin Terror in 2014.
The great Vin Knight is the only other driver to win the Bendigo Pacing Cup three times – Bay Chapel in 1977 and back-to-back wins with the great Bag Limit in 1986 and 1987.
Two-time Bendigo Pacing Cup-winning drivers include Gavin Lang, Lance Justice, Stephen Dove, Greg Sugars, Gordon Rothacker and Ted Demmler.
“He’s right at the top of his game at the moment and all things being equal he’s probably got a little bit on them,’’ Alford said of Lennytheshark.
Alford has two options with Lennytheshark on Saturday night. From gate five he could use his speed at the start to cross and lead or he could go back from the draw and make a mid-race move.
“This time 12 months ago he wouldn’t have been to do the work off the arm or work mid-race, but now he’s still got that electrifying speed and you can still burn him up early to take a position,’’ Alford said.
Hectorjayjay ($11), Im Corzin Terror ($13) and Franco Ledger ($15) are the best chances to run second to the champ.
While the Pacing Cup appears to be a one-horse race, the $50,000 Group One Aldebaran Park Maori Mile for the trotters has several winning chances.
Last year’s winner Maori Time is not in the same form as she was last year, but from a front row draw looks set to use her gate speed and try to lead.
Glenferrie Typhoon shapes as the horse to beat. Prior to breaking in last week’s Grand Prix, the Andy Gath-trained trotter was superb in winning the George Gath and the Melton Trotters Cup.
Champion reinsman Gavin Lang won the 2012 Maori Mile with My Mon Star and he has a great chance to make it two wins when he partners Claudys Princess.
The five-year-old mare has only missed a place once in 32 career starts.
Kiwi raider Quite A Moment returned to form at Melton last start and will be hard to beat.