You didn't need to see the timekeeper's notes to know that Sonny Weaver ripped home in a sizzling final quarter at Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday night.

But taking a look at the sectionals certainly does reinforce how well Russell Jack's powerful four-year-old performed in the Benstud Standardbreds Pace.

After settling three back on the pegs from his barrier eight draw, Leigh Sutton had a lapful of horse rounding the turn and let him loose in the sprint lane. The son of Sunshine Beach showed his explosive turn of foot to reel in the front-runners and score a 3m victory.

His final 400m split of 26.81sec was clearly the night's fastest and his last 800m time of 54.72sec only bettered by Scott Ewen-trained Assassinator, who finished an eye-catching fifth in the same race.

Sonny Weaver has recorded three wins from four starts this preparation, with his career record now at nine victories and almost $100,000 in prizemoney.

"I'm just in love with him," Sutton said on Trots Vision post-race.

"I'm three for three on him so he just keeps doing things that are unbelievable.

"He's going to have to aim up against some of the good ones shortly I'm tipping, so he's going to need every little bit of weapon he's got to be doing what they can do to keep winning races."

PJ Data also covered the Ballarat meeting on March 25 last week, with Emma Stewart-trained Execution Oro reeling off the slickest last 400m of the night when fifth in the Ballarat Mazda Pace and David Aiken's One Big Shew clocking the best final 800m when third in the second heat of the Alabar Vicbred Platinum Home Grown Classic (3YO Colts and Geldings).

WATCH SONNY WEAVER’S BIG WIN AT MELTON BELOW

 

WHERE TO NEXT?

Sonny Weaver will now tackle the Mildura Pacing Cup heats, which get underway on Tuesday.

 

THE NUMBERS

SONNY WEAVER

BENSTUD STANDARDBREDS PACE (2240m) - 1st

LEAD TIME: 47.93sec

LAST MILE: 1:55.87min

LAST 800m: 54.72sec

LAST 400m: 26.81sec

 

FASTEST FIVE

BALLARAT, MARCH 25

LAST 400m

EXECUTION ORO 26.75sec - 5th BALLARAT MAZDA PACE

MAJOR WATSON 26.92sec - 6th BALLARAT MAZDA PACE

AMERICAN ALLI 26.92sec - 9th BALLARAT MAZDA PACE

ONE BIG SHEW 27.07sec - 3rd ALABAR VICBRED PLATINUM HOME GROWN CLASSIC (3YO COLTS & GELDINGS) (2ND HEAT)

METRO MAN 27.11sec - 2nd BALLARAT MAZDA PACE

 

LAST 800m

ONE BIG SHEW 56.49sec - 3rd ALABAR VICBRED PLATINUM HOME GROWN CLASSIC (3YO COLTS & GELDINGS) (2ND HEAT)

NARUTAC PRINCE 56.70sec - 1st ALABAR VICBRED PLATINUM HOME GROWN CLASSIC (3YO COLTS & GELDINGS) (2ND HEAT)

RUBY WINGATE 56.84sec - 1st ALABAR VICBRED PLATINUM HOME GROWN CLASSIC (3YO FILLIES) (1ST HEAT)

ISLAND BLUE CHIP 56.85sec - 2nd ALABAR VICBRED PLATINUM HOME GROWN CLASSIC (3YO FILLIES) (1ST HEAT)

EUROKING 56.93sec - 2nd ALABAR VICBRED PLATINUM HOME GROWN CLASSIC (3YO COLTS & GELDINGS) (2ND HEAT)

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL BALLARAT SECTIONALS

 

MELTON, MARCH 27

LAST 400m

SONNY WEAVER 26.81sec - 1st BENSTUD STANDARDBREDS PACE

IM NO OUTLAW 27.02sec - 6th BENSTUD STANDARDBREDS PACE

ASSASSINATOR 27.15sec - 5th BENSTUD STANDARDBREDS PACE

BOY FROM BONDI 27.18sec - 2nd BENSTUD STANDARDBREDS PACE

NOTNEGOTIABLE 27.21sec - 6th MIMOSA HOMES 3YO PACE

 

LAST 800m

ASSASSINATOR 54.67sec - 5th BENSTUD STANDARDBREDS PACE

SONNY WEAVER 54.72sec - 1st BENSTUD STANDARDBREDS PACE

IM NO OUTLAW 54.95sec - 6th BENSTUD STANDARDBREDS PACE

BOY FROM BONDI 54.97sec - 2nd BENSTUD STANDARDBREDS PACE

MAJOR ASSASSIN 55.07sec - 7th BENSTUD STANDARDBREDS PACE

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL MELTON SECTIONALS