Highly-touted freshman to bounce back

HIGHLY-TOUTED youngster Petracca is expected to have no trouble bouncing back to the winners’ circle during the weekend.

Creating a buzz with his trial form and his impressive debut in a Bathurst Gold Crown heat a fortnight ago, Petracca finished third in the Group One Final last Friday night.

Pleasing trainer Emma Stewart with the manner in which he handled the interstate trip, the son of Captaintreacherous will back-up at Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday night.

“He has come through Bathurst in terrific shape,” Stewart said. “He took everything in his stridke and handled the whole trip like a seasoned campaigner.

“We weren’t necessarily going to aim at Saturday night’s race, but given how well he is feeling, we decided to put him in.”

Facing just five rivals, Petracca will begin from barrier five in the Shakamaker Classic, with the two-year-old a $2 favourite.

“I’m not worried about the draw, as no matter where he settles, he still won’t be far off the pace,” Stewart said.

“That said, these small fields can sometimes be tricky, so he’ll still have to be at the top of his game.”

As for the night’s honouree – a $2500 Australian Pacing Gold purchase, Shakamaker became a star of the late 1990s/early 2000s.

Runner-up upon debut, Shakamaker then won his next six starts, including the APG Final.

Having 15 starts at three, Shakamaker registered 12 wins, two seconds and a third, with his victories including the APG and Vicbred Final, West and South Australian Derbys and an M1 at Moonee Valley.

Also among the placings in the Victoria and Australian Derbys, Shakamaker was controversially denied Victorian Horse of the Year honours, which went to New Zealand champion, Courage Under Fire.

Remarkably, Courage Under Fire only had three starts in the state for wins in the Victoria and Australian Derbys, but was considered the state’s best horse of the season!

As a four-year-old Shakamaker created history and etched his name alongside the immortals by capturing the Inter Dominion at Moonee Valley.

The Final of the 2000 Championship was the first time a harness racing event offered $1million in stakes.

Remaining highly-successful at the top level throughout his career, Shakamaker was retired with 46 wins and 22 placings from 81 starts for earnings of $2,229,634.