Improved trotter ready to deliver Inter Dominion dream

Harness racing trainer Ross Graham hopes Australia’s most-improved trotter Nephew Of Sonoko (Danny Bouchea) can carry him into his first Inter Dominion series for 14 years.

Graham, who calls Nephew Of Sonoko his “great surprise packet”, had former classy trotter Viva La Fever run fourth in the 2007 Adelaide Inter Dominion final behind Uncle Petrika then fifth to Galleons Sunset in the 2008 Melbourne final.

“Having an Inter Dominion runner is what we all strive for. It would be pretty special to be part of it again … but there is still a way to go before we get there,” Graham said.

“We actually had him entered last year (Sydney), but he wasn’t quite at his top and it looked like being hard to take our horses up because of the Covid restrictions so we scratched him.”

Maybe that was a blessing in disguise.

For some reason, and Graham has a few theories, the six-year-old Nephew Of Sonoko has gone to a whole new level this season, especially with his past three wins in strong company.

“If someone said he’d get to this level, I don’t know that I’d have believed them. Put it this way, he’s exceeded my expectations,” Graham admitted.

“He did tease us with a huge run in the Vicbred final as a three-year-old. I say tease because he showed so much that day, but it’s taken until now for him to show it again.

“He’s always had a bit of zip, but he’s probably stronger and has matured into more of a complete racehorse. He doesn’t overdo things now, he doesn’t get keen at the wrong times in races like he used to.”

So why the sudden and marked improvement as a six-year-old with 109 race starts?

“I don’t think there is any one reason,” Graham said. “We put in a water walker at home and I’m sure it’s helped. He’s getting that bit of extra work without having to go onto the track. I also think it gives them a bit of rehab and work at the same time.

“James (Herbertson, driver) has been a big part of it too. We’re blessed with some outstanding young drivers in Victoria and he’s one of the best. He’s really clicked with this horse.

“It’s all come together to give us a happy horse. He’s in a really good place.”

Nephew Of Sonoko will chase a fourth successive win in the Group 3 Touch Merchant Trotters’ free-for-all (2190m) at Shepparton on Saturday night.

“We’re up against Majestuoso again and he was enormous to get so close after making an early mistake last time when had an easier run and beat him,” Graham said.

“But our horse came out and won really well again last week. James (Herbertson) said it’s the best he;s ever felt and he had them covered 600m from home.

“He seems to still be getting better and he’s trained-on really well at home this week. He’s been great.”

It is also an important race for Australia’s top trotter Majestuoso (Majestic Son), who had issues when disappointing first-up then cost himself with an early gallop when second to Nephew Of Sonoko last outing.

Trainer Andy Gath will use the race to decide whether Majestuoso heads north for two feature trotting races during next month’s huge Queensland Constellations Carnival.

by Adam Hamilton, for Newscorp