Nephew ready to finally steal the spotlight in Bendigo Cup

If ever a trotter was overdue to land a feature race it has to be the ultra consistent Nephew Of Sonoko.

He’s had a stellar career, winning 12 times and earning close to $160,000, but so far a big win has eluded him.

Sutton Grange trainer Ross Graham is hopeful the six-year-old’s time might come at his milestone 100^th start in the Group 2 Aldebaran Park Bendigo Trotters Cup on Friday night.

“He’ll have to be at the peak of his powers, but he’s going very well – well enough to give it a shake," Graham said.

“He’s mixed it with the better ones without winning at this level. Hopefully this is the one.”

Nephew Of Sonoko is one of five off the front and the way he is racing at the moment it is difficult to believe he has not won since June last year.

His latest five outings have featured three top three finishes, including a third behind The Penny Drops and Havehorsewilltravel in the Group 2 Charlton Trotters Cup and last-start third to Credit Master and Always Ready in the Group 3 Uncle Petrika Free-for-All at Melton on Saturday night.

“He’s been going quite well for a while,” Graham said.

Graham believes replacing himself with Nathan Jack in the cart for Nephew Of Sonoko has been a big plus.

He said as well as being an astute driver Jack was much lighter framed and that had to help.

Nephew Of Sonoko has only had eight standing starts in his career – the latest in the Charlton Cup three starts ago – but has won two of them and Graham had no concerns, adding “he normally steps okay, without being sensational”.

Graham hoped Jack could find a forward position on Nephew Of Sonoko, who “goes his best when in the firing line".

The Penny Drops will start from the back mark of 30 metres behind Always Ready on 20 metres.

Former New Zealand mare Silver Power will be one to watch off the front in the 12-strong field.

Silver Power is second-up for young trainer Jack MacKinnon after running a impressive third to Im Ready Jet and Aldebaran Crescent in the Group 1 Sumthingaboutmaori Free-For-All for mares at Melton on March 26.

The cup is race seven on a bumper 12-race card.