Life has been tough for astute harness racing trainer Sam Dimarco in recent times, but he has every reason to smile at the moment.
Battling depression, Dimarco returned to the industry last year and has enjoyed a sensational rate of success.
Leading the charge is boom youngster Shadow Runner, which is unbeaten from four starts, including the Bathurst Gold Crown.
Driven by Michael Formosa, Shadow Runner worked hard from his second row draw before scoring by a short half-head from Karloo Damajor.
In a ‘blanket finish’, Sams The Master was a half-head away third.
“It got tight at the finish, but he got there, which is the main thing,” Dimarco said. “I’m rapt, couldn’t be happier.
“That’s my first Group One win and to share it with my daughter Marissa, who owns Shadow Runner is amazing.”
Covering the last half in 57.2 seconds, Shadow Runner rated a brilliant 1:55.7 for the 1730-metre trip, smashing the race record set by Jaccka Taurus in 1999 by 2.4 seconds.
To be given a brief let-up, the gelded son of Shadow Play will then be set for the New South Wales Breeders’ Challenge.
“He is already bucking around in the paddock and ready to go again,” Dimarco said. “You wouldn’t even know he’d raced on the weekend.
“I will give him an easy week, then get ready for the Breeders’ Challenge.”
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PAUL COURTS