Im The Boss proved last night he is without doubt the boss of the country cups when powering to an all the way win in the 55th running of the Group 2 Jet Roofing Kilmore Pacing Cup.
Last season’s Cobram, Mildura and Shepparton Cup champion, who was purchased as a claimer and has since also produced a narrow second at Warragul, went straight to the front and never saw another rival after that, leading all the way for the 2690m journey, as he did at Mildura.
In what has been a stellar 12 months for Kima Frenning in the sulky, it was another big race success for the humble driver while it was trainer David Aiken’s second winner in the race after Lennytheshark saluted in 2017.
Despite drifting all week in the TAB Fixed Odds market, Im The Boss was able to spear off the mobile at the start and see off all challengers.
An emotional Kima Frenning was absolutely ecstatic on returning.
“I have got absolutely no words for this horse, he has just done so much for me and he just came to end of his preparation last campaign and to come back and win a race like the Kilmore Cup like this against horses like that, he is just ridiculous,” Frenning told Trots Vision.
“When he is at his best he just goes to the front and keeps going and that is the way he races and that is what he does, he just knows when it’s raceday.
“At home we can barely get him to go because he is just so lazy and then he just knows exactly what to do when he comes out in the races.
“I was a bit worried as he’d been pulling a bit and then I saw I had My Kiwi Mate outside of me and Bettermatch out three wide, but he just felt so strong on the bit and he just keeps boxing on and that is his best asset and he’s just got the biggest heart ever."
It was one of two wins on the night for Frenning, who steered Makes Every Scents to win the J & A Mazzetti Pace, while trainer David Aiken had a training treble as he trained both of those horses and also Aldebaran Crescent to win the last. Aiken indicated the next target for Im The Boss would be the Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup on Saturday October 13 at Tabcorp Park Melton.
Three Ways defied his ridiculous $41 odds to run another great race in second place while Bad Billy continued his good form under these conditions running third. Keep On Rocking enjoyed an economical run as expected and got through along the Jet Roofing Sprint Lane for fourth position ahead of Magical Marn.
The two Sydney-Siders Ellmers Image and Bettermatch never really got into contention and finished sixth and eighth and My Kiwi Mate, who started a well backed favourite, weakened in the home straight to be beaten 13m into seventh spot after sitting outside the leader for the last two laps.
The other feature on the program was the Group 3 McIvor Estate Kilmore Trotters Cup, which was won in fine style by Father Christmas, who proved once again in a country cup he was the best stayer. He won unextended by 10m for Greg Sugars over Margaret Ruth, who flashed home for second and Kyvalley Barney in third.
La Grange was able to continue his progression by taking out the TAB Early Bird Special Trotters Handicap in a breeze, Winkanditsover caused a slight boilover in the Momentum Gaming Pace knocking out Diamonds N Cash and A Victor continued her progression in the Carlton & United Breweries Pace.
It was a good crowd packed in for fine entertainment including photos and autographs with AFL stars Josh Jenkins and Michael Hurley.
The next and second stage of the 2018/19 Trots Country Cups Championship will be on Friday October 19 at Swan Hill for the Group 3 Swan Hill Pacing Cup and Swan Hill Trotters Cup.
Luke Humphreys