The Shark, the Spider and the Phoenix to resume at Shepparton as Aiken launches #SOG assault BY CODY WINNELL The Emma Stewart Show has been dominating across Victoria – and into South Australia – from weekend to weekend of late with her Smythes Creek stable big guns firing on all cylinders. But Avenel trainer David Aiken will launch a three-pronged attack on the upcoming TAB.au Summer of Glory starting this Saturday night at Shepparton. Aiken has a trio of stable stars resuming on Shepparton Gold Cup Night, with Lennytheshark first-up in the Group 2 feature, the Neatline Homes Shepparton Gold Cup, Spidergirl to contest the Group 3 George Gath and Eljaykay Phoenix launching his three-year-old career in the Saddleworld Trot. Lennytheshark famously had Guaranteed’s measure last time in when he proved 6.1m too good for the Stewart trained star in the Vicbred Super Series Final for four-year-olds in a rate of 1:56 at Melton. “He’s had three trials. Last week we stepped him up a bit and he trialled very good with a good last half,” Aiken said of Lenny. “He just needs the racing now. “We would have liked another run or two before the Victoria Cup but it just didn’t work out that way.” Aiken said he had no concerns with Lennytheshark from the stand-start conditions on Saturday night, describing him as a laidback customer. “He takes things in his stride. He’s a good gaited horse,” he said. “He’s been good at the trials from the stand – a little bit on the slow side, but he’s had some practice at home.” Lennytheshark has won 15 races from 30 starts and was put away for a spell after seven straight wins. Spidergirl meanwhile will resume in the 2190-metre George Gath, connections of the five-year-old mare hoping she can reach the dizzy heights of her 2014 preparation when she won the Breeders Crown and Vicbred finals. “Her work’s been good and she’ll improve with racing,” Aiken said.“She’s still on the big side but we’re pretty happy with where she’s at.” And last season’s juvenile trotting champion, Eljaykay Phoenix, has his first start this season in the last race at Shepparton from pole position. The winner of eight of his 10 starts to date, Eljaykay Phoenix is primed for a first-up tilt, says Aiken. “It’s great to have him back. He’s had two trials and won both of them. This looks a suitable race for him and we’ll go into the race pretty confident.”
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 04:15:00 +0000
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