Another chapter in the Kima Frenning-Im The Boss fairytale story was written in Saturday night’s Neatline Homes Shepparton Gold Cup.
Pictures: Julie MercerIm The Boss crosses the finish line first, with Lennytheshark and Brallos Pass hot on his heels. Luke Stokie, Zach Fiore, Kima Frenning and Cody Crossland celebrate the win.
Bargain buy Im The Boss, driven by Frenning, spoilt the party of much-loved stablemate and $1.80 favourite Lennytheshark in claiming the Group Two feature in track record time in a David Aiken stable quinella.
The Shark, driven by his trainer in the absence of regular reinsman Chris Alford who had commitments at Menangle, looked all over a winner when he surged past the well-supported second favourite and pacemaker Cruz Bromac on the home turn after death seating for two laps.
But with the easier run on the back of Cruz Bromac throughout the race Im The Boss, the $5.90 third favourite, pounced in the dying stages to claim the major prize in a thrilling four-way finish.
Third placegetter, the Kyabramtrained Brallos Pass, rallied bravely in the home straight after appearing to be struggling when they sprinted hard on the home bend to figure in a photo for second and third with Lennytheshark, while Cruz Bromac battled on well for a close-up fourth.
To beat Lennytheshark it took Im The Boss to run a track record 1:56.1 for the marathon 2690 m trip, slicing a whopping 1.4 seconds off the previous mark set by another Aiken runner Hectorjayjay in winning last year’s cup.
The result in fact was a win-win situation for the Aiken stable as Lennytheshark’s second placing took him over the $3 million prizemoney earnings barrier.
Frenning was overcome after the Spectacular end: (Inset) race and said she couldn’t believe the ride Im The Boss had taken her on after being secured out of a claiming race by clients of Aiken for $11 000 last September.
Asked when did she think the cup was hers on Saturday she replied ‘‘not ‘til right on the line’’.
‘‘When you have to pull around Lenny and then try and run him down it is not an easy thing to do,’’ she said.
Frenning said Lenny would have a freshen up in Peter Clark’s water walker at Murchison before more suitable races are found for him.
Im The Boss was having his 14th outing for the Aiken-Frenning team and in those starts there have been seven wins, including the Mildura and Cobram pacing cups.
Since joining the Aiken stable Im The Boss has accumulated more than $112 000 in prizemoney.
Menangle visitor Tough Monarch landed a betting plunge with a powerful all the way win in the Alabar Shepparton Trotters Cup.
The Rikki Alchin-trained and driven six-year-old zoomed straight to the front and ran his rivals ragged over the 2690 m to beat Regal Pepperell and Father Christmas.
