Shelton breaks Maclean Cup duck

Innocenttassie with apprentice Adam Hyeronimus after winning the Maclean Cup.

Daily Examiner

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Grafton Cup 2009

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TRAINER John Shelton snared his first ever $25,000 Maclean Bowling Club Maclean Cup (1400m) at Grafton yesterday when heavily-backed favourite Innocenttassie romped home.

On a bright day when local horses came to the fore, Innocenttassie's win also marked the first feature race win by a locally-trained horse during the July Racing Carnival.

And the consistent five-year-old gelding vindicated Shelton and owner Pat Bramich's decision to bypass last Wednesday's $130,000 WHK Ramornie (1200m).

It was a case of little fish are sweet.

“Everything has gone to plan beautifully,” Shelton said. “He's had an uninterrupted preparation, hasn't put a foot wrong.

“I've probably never had many starters in the Maclean Cup but it's my first and a good race to win.”

Backed from $2.70 into $2, Innocenttassie, ridden by star stable apprentice Adam Hyeronimus, tracked leader and eventual runner-up Instant Success ($5.50) into the home straight before moving to the centre of the track to score by three-quarters of a length.

Tamworth-trained Miss Reed ($8) was 1-1/4 lengths away third.

“I could nearly have won on him myself, he's a very easy horse to ride but Adam (Hyeronimus) rode him perfect,” Shelton a former jockey said.

For 19-year-old Hyeronimus, the son of former Sydney jockey Craig Hyeronimus and Narelle Paine, a sister to jockey Neil Paine, it was a copybook ride on the Pat and Kayleen Bramich owned gelding.

“He always travelled sweetly,” Hyeronimus said.

Bramich has raced horses with Shelton for around 12 years dating back to Nansie and Daniel's Argo.

Their best performer was twice Ramornie placed Sir Dan, from the same family as Innocenttassie, who was eventually sold to Macau where he won numerous stakes races.

Innocenttassie, by Mr. Innocent out of Moss Stepper, is the dam's fourth foal to win in the same ownership.

“This is our home track, I love Grafton and I love winning races here,” Bramich said.

So does Innocenttassie.

The gelding purchased for $30,000 as a yearling at the Magic Million sales, continued his 'Bo Derrick' record on his home track.

From 11 starts, Innocenttassie's record reads six wins and five placings.

Bramich revealed he was prepared to go to $50,000 to secure Innocenttassie.

“He's the best of the breed, a terrific, consistent horse,” Bramich added.

Innocenttassie has now won nearly $90,000.

“The horse is a pleasure to train,” Shelton said. “He doesn't have any real quirks, just makes my job a lot easier.

“He'll probably go to Brisbane now for a country cup race and we'll decide about the Coffs Harbour Cup.”

Bowraville Cup winner Instant Success, trained by Gayna Williams at Bathurst, will head home.

It was fitting that Hyeronimus and Instant Success's rider Timothy Bell, should fight out the finish.

The youngsters, both with bright futures, head the country apprentices' premiership.