News
30 September, 2024
Shaw Thing! James Lands Winning Meadows Treble
JAMES Shaw landed a winning treble in the first three races at The Meadows on Saturday night but had to watch them win via video from Geelong.
Shaw won with Drop Of Ink (Aston Rupee-Slinky Ink) a 30.52 winner of a 6th-7th Grade, Sammy Sung (Fernando Bale-Mepunga Spectre) in 30.17 in a 6th Grade, and Shiny Ink (Shima Shine-Slinky Ink) in 29.87 in a 5th Grade.
But Kiwi-born Shaw also had six runners at Geelong on Saturday night where he got a couple of placegetters.
And he admitted it was a last-minute decision to send his winning treble of runners to The Meadows and not the finish-on lure meeting at Geelong.
“When I saw the lack of nominations for The Meadows, I tossed that trio in,” he said.
“Tony Hyde took the dogs to The Meadows for me and he handled the first two, and Steve Collier handled the third one because Tony had a runner in the same race.”
Pictures: Jason McKeown
James admitted the first winner, Drop Of Ink, had been close to adoption .
“She did not run a place in her first five starts and I was about to give up on her,” he said.
“But she tries hard and I think she will be suited to those non-penalty races at The Meadows mid-week. She is much like a bitch I own called Learned Lesson who has won six of those non-penalty races this year.”
Of Sammy Sung, James said the dog is the best of his litter and had come a long way in the past few months.
“It was his best box draw for a long while,” James said.
“He is likely to head towards the Great Chase now.”
Shiny Ink landed his The Meadows assignment off box one.
“He’s a real box one bandit,” said James. “And, he was really suited in the race which is why he started so short ($1.65).
“He surprised me in that he went so fast (29.87). It’s the fastest winner I’ve had at The Meadows.”
James’ Kiwi roots are hard to shift.
He is an unabashed fan of the finish-on lure and pointed to the fact all three winners at The Meadows had raced at Sandown on the finish-on lure on Monday night.
Shinky Ink winning at The Meadows on Saturday night Picture: Jason Mckeown
He is also raving about a 10-month old Plaintiff litter out of Mepunga Spectre (dam of Sammy Sung).
The Barcia Bale-Mepunga Mia bitch, winner of 13 races, whelped three dogs and one bitch to Plaintiff in November last year.
“I absolutely love them,” said James.
“They are big dogs, but the mother is a big bitch anyway.
“I put them onto the bull ring when they were five months old and they are the best I’ve ever seen at it.
“The mother missed to Zambora Brockie but had a handy couple of litters by Fernando Bale, so when she came on season next time, I put her to Plaintiff who is by Zambora Brockie from a daughter of Fernando Bale,” he said.