James Herbertson's belief that he has a top class trotter in his hands is only strengthening and, perhaps more importantly, the talented young reinsman said Nephew Of Sonoko was even more sure of his status.

The Ross Graham trained trotter produced a no-nonsense dominance of the TAB Touch Merchant Trotters Free For All at Shepparton on Saturday night, holding Majestuoso at bay and comfortably registering a fourth successive win.

“He’s a character,” Herbertson said of Nephew Of Sonoko. “He’s got a bit of human style to him in the way he’s a bit nippy and plays.

“He’s really enjoying it, he’s become these last couple of starts – even tonight I noticed it a bit more – a little bit more arrogant actually and he knows that he’s up there now and he knows that he’s good.

“That’s a really good attribute to have at this point heading forward. Hoping we can just keep him there.”

Affectionately known as NOSSY at Graham’s stables, the veteran trotter of 110 starts had previously registered consecutive victories only once before – going back-to-back in April 2020 – but has enjoyed a stunning winter that has many talking Inter Dominion and the Aurora Australis series.

The string of four victories has built a hype that wasn’t lost on his reinsman, who was a guest panelist alongside Nikkita Ross and Steve Cleave on tonight’s TrotsVision coverage.

“I was actually a little bit nervous before (the race),” Herbertson said. “Been a bit of a lead up to it actually, even though it’s just a nice Group 3 race, just a bit of pressure there. At the end of the day it’s very exciting.”

The nerves didn’t show in the run, with Nephew Of Sonoko working to the front in a sharp enough lead time (42.5 seconds) but then able to switch off for 31.5 and 31.7 first and second quarters.

While Majestuoso loomed large on his outside, Herbertson and Nephew Of Sonoko controlled the pace and were never threatened, getting home in 57.1 seconds to score by six metres from Humble Ladd with Majestuoso a close third.

“The way he did it, plugs in and Majestuoso siting outside you … and cruising, I barely asked anything of him,” Herbertson said.

So is the sky truly the limit?

“There’s a little bit more speed there,” he said. “I think he’s still a little bit tougher than he is quick.

“I think he still lacks that little bit of real high speed that Majestuoso has. If Majestuoso was on his back he would have a really hard time trying to beat him, but in terms of pure toughness and just the way he’s doing it it’s very exciting.”

IT was also a big night for Abby Sanderson, a young driver who took the reins for the first time in a metropolitan race and – true to her recent form – delivered another winner.

Sanderson was in complete control of the Barastoc Pace, working to the front on Julie Douglas’s Mighty Flying Art and then switching off through a 31.4-second second quarter.

The well-paced breather left her six-year-old gelding with plenty in the tank for a 27.5-second last quarter and he held out Cool Rocking Daddy to score.

“It’s my first metro meeting and I’m really excited,” Sanderson told TrotsVision. “It was good that he drew barrier one, knowing he had a lot of gate speed and the small field helped him out.

“When Struve went back at the start I knew I would take some running down because he would have to catch me. It was good that I could get that cheap quarter and it made it hard for him.”

Leading into tonight the 17-year-old had produced 13 wins across 178 starts but none as rich as tonight’s $20,000 pace for horses rated 78 to 97, which was one of three wins by the Douglas camp on the night.

They also scored with Would You Mind, who was ultra impressive in winning the ID22 Heats @ Shepparton Claiming Pace, running past favourite Sicario.

Ellen Tormey was in the sulky and then she paired with Douglas for more success in the Neatline Homes Pace, with brilliant pacing warrior Bernie Winkle registering a 58th win courtesy of a trademark sprint lane burst.

Sanderson credited the Douglas team for giving her terrific support.

“They’ve been great – Glenn, Julie, Eric (Anderson) all the team,” she said. “They’ve been really good and give you a good opportunity.”