Lombo Pocket Watch

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Lombo Pocket Watch
Sire:	Jet Laag
Dam:	Misty Maiden
Broodmare Sire:	Windshield Wiper
Sex:	Colt
Foaled:	October 16, 2003
Country:	Australia
color:	Grey
Breeder:	Lombo Standardbreds
Owner:	Lombo Standardbreds
Trainers:	Graeme Tindale, Paul Fitzpatrick
Record:	44:34-2-2
Fastest Mile Rate:	At 2: 1:56.9 At 3: 1:57.6 At 4: 1:57.9
Prizemoney:	$1,327,008AUD
Group One Wins
2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007	Bathurst Gold Crown (2yoc&g) Australian Pacing Gold (2yoc&g) Kevin Seymour Nursery (2yoc&g) Vicbred Super Series (2yoc&g) Australasian Breeders Crown (2yoc&g) Australian Pacing Gold (3yoc&g) Victoria Derby (3yo) Tasmanian Derby (3yo) Australian Derby (3yo) Vicbred Super Series (3yoc&g) McInerney Ford Classic (4yo) Golden Nugget (4yo)
*Correct as at December 17, 2007
**Currently Racing

Lombo Pocket Watch is a grey standardbred colt foaled on October 16, 2003. He was bred, and is currently raced by leviathan Western Australian owner Mick Lombardo, and his trained by Cawdor mentor Paul Fitzpatrick, with son Gavin Fitzpatrick the regular driver. Sired by Jet Laag who was sired by Laag, out of the Windshield Wiper mare Misty Maiden the 1992 Australian 3yo Pacer of the Year, who in her own right won 12 races and $245,449AUD including the 1992 Australian Derby, a race that her son won in 2007, these achievements make them the only mother and son to have won overall 3yo Pacer of the Year as well as the Australian Derby.

Nicknamed The Grey Bullet, he was the youngest ever Australasian bred pacer to reach $1 million when he broke through the barrier in winning the Vicbred Super Series for three year olds, on the 1st of June 2007 at Moonee Valley in Victoria. In his first 2 full seasons of racing Lombo Pocket Watch has amassed many awards including 2006 Australian Harness Horse of the Year, as well as the 2006 Australian 2yo Pacer of the Year, Lombo Pocket Watch backed up and won the 2007 Australian 3yo Pacer of the Year. In his 2yo season Lombo Pocket Watch became the richest 2yo in Australia^[1] and his 18 wins put him 3rd on the all-time most season wins for a 2yo.^[2] In his 3yo season Pocket Watch also saw him break the all-time stakes winners for 3yo pacers.^[3] Lombo Pocket Watch currently sits at 22nd on the all-time stakes winners list, and Australasia's youngest millionaire pacer.^[4]

Currently racing as a four year old he has won a staggering 12 Group One races including the time honoured, prestigious Victoria Derby, as well as the $285,000AUD two year old Colts & Geldings Australian Pacing Gold and the $284,000AUD two year old Pacing Colts & Geldings Australasian Breeders Crown. In winning the three year old Vicbred Super Series he joined an elite group of horses that have completed the two year old and three year old Vicbred Super Series double, and in 2008, has the opportunity to join Colbruce (1996-97) as the only horses that have won the Series at 2, 3 and 4.

Contents 1 2 Year Old Season (2005-2006) 1.1 Western Australia 1.2 NSW Sapling Stakes 1.3 Linden Huntly Memorial 1.4 Bathurst Gold Crown 1.5 Australian Pacing Gold 1.6 Kevin Seymour Nursery 1.7 Vicbred Super Series 1.8 Australasian Breeders Crown 1.9 Awards 2 3 Year Old Season (2006-2007) 2.1 Australian Pacing Gold 2.2 Victorian Sires Classic 2.3 Victoria Derby 2.4 Great Northern Derby 2.5 Tasmanian Derby 2.6 Australian Derby 2.7 New South Wales Derby 2.8 Vicbred Super Series 2.9 Queensland Derby 2.10 Australasian Breeders Crown 2.11 Awards 3 Four Year Old Season (2007-2008) 3.1 McInerney Ford Classic 3.2 Golden Nugget 3.3 Western Australian Pacing Cup 3.4 Inter Domion Championships 3.5 Vicbred Super Series 4 References 5 External links

[edit] 2 Year Old Season (2005-2006)

[edit] Western Australia

After recording 2 wins from 3 starts in Western Australia, failing to complete the course at his second start when driver Chris Lewis pulled him out of a race at Perth's Gloucester Park. That would be his only blemish for another 20 starts. Under the care of Graeme Tindale, Lombo Pocket Watch was transferred to the New South Wales for some major races.

[edit] NSW Sapling Stakes

Driven in his first start at Harold Park Racetrack by Gavin Fitzpatrick, Lombo Pocket Watch was sent out at juicy odds of $27.80 on local totes. In what was a sign of things to come, Pocket Watch sat three back along the pegs from his barrier 10 draw and out sprinted his opposition in the home straight recording a 5 m victory in a mile rate of 2.01.1.

[edit] Linden Huntly Memorial

Lombo Pocket Watch was then transferred to the care of Paul Fitzpatrick at Cawdor to continue his racing. For his first start for Fitzpatrick Lombo Pocket Watch headed for the Linden Huntly Memorial, a series for two year old colts and geldings at Bulli, in New South Wales. For the first time in his carrer he completed a series clean sweep in winning a heat on the Monday, followed by a victory in the Group Two event worth $50,000AUD on the Saturday night.

[edit] Bathurst Gold Crown

The Bathurst Gold Crown for two year old colts and geldings was next on the cards at Bathurst, a heat and final series. Lombo Pocket Watch won his heat by 12.4 m and was the second elect in the $100,000AUD final, behind stablemate Lombo Mandingo, who is owned by the same interests. Gavin Fitzpatrick elected to drive Lombo Mandingo in the final and freelance driver Greg Bennett picked up the drive on Lombo Pocket Watch. Bennett had Pocket Watch race in the death seat outside the more fancied Lombo Mandingo. With the two Mick Lombardo owned and bred horses clearing out by 12 m Lombo Pocket Watch got the photo finish by a neck, giving him his first Group One race.

[edit] Australian Pacing Gold

With Gavin Fitzpatrick back in the sulky, Lombo Pocket Watch won a heat of the Australian Pacing Gold Series for two year old colts and geldings at Harold Park. The $20,000AUD heat was followed by a $285,000AUD final carrying Group One status. The final was conducted at Albion Park, the home of Queensland harness racing on May 13, 2006. Lombo Pocket Watch collected the $150,000AUD winners cheque in a mile rate of 1.56.9, his fasted in his two year old season, due to an early speed battle resulting in the first quarter of the 1660 m event posted in 28.2 seconds, and a final quarter of 28.4 seconds. Runner up, Twelve Paces finished within a half head of Pocket Watch but may well have beaten him had he not raced greenly up the straight and shifted out in the straight.

[edit] Kevin Seymour Nursery

The Kevin Seymour Nursery is a race for two year old colts and geldings named in honour of major Queensland sponsor and chairman Kevin Seymour. In another heat and final series Lombo Pocket Watch cruised to victory in his heat in a mile rate of 1.59.5 for the 2138 m race. The final, worth $100,000AUD and carrying Group One status was over the same distance as the heat and once again Lombo Pocket Watch sat outside the leader and was too good winning by 5.9 m in a mile rate of 1.59.2, including a final half of 56.5 seconds.

[edit] Vicbred Super Series

Lombo Pocket Watch's sire Jet Laag was at stud in Victoria and made Pocket Watch eligible for the Vicbred Super Series for Victorian bred horses. In a heat at Shepparton Lombo Pocket Watch dominated in winning by 10.1 m. Pocket Watch made his debut at Moonee Valley on July 7, 2006 in a semi final of the series, which he dominated with a 7.1 m victory over the 2100 m journey covering the final 400 m in 27.8 seconds, although the mile rate was only 2.03.3 due to the slow early pace.

On July 14, 2006 Lombo Pocket Watch competed in the Group One, $100,000AUD final. Starting in barrier 2 outside stablemate Lombo Mandingo, Pocket Watch began well and Gavin Fitzpatrick pushed for the lead which was surrendered by Lombo Mandingo and Fitzpatrick's brother Blake. Fitzpatrick was allowed to set a slow early pace, but the final half was covered in 57.2 seconds and a mile rate of 1.57.9, as Pocket Watch cleared out to win by 13.5 m from Lombo Mandingo.

[edit] Australasian Breeders Crown

The final series of his two year old season was the rich Australasian Breeders Crown. Lombo Pocket Watch was an obvious favorite to take the Group One, $284,000AUD final even before the series started. After an easy heat win at Harold Park over Lively Exit, Lombo Pocket Watch headed to the semi finals at Ballarat in country Victoria. The semi final turned into a 400 m sprint when the leaders dawdled resulting in a flying 27.9 second final quarter, but a mile rate of 2.02.7.

With a 15 race winning streak on the line Lombo Pocket Watch headed to Ballarat on August 20, 2006. After drawing barrier 8, the inside of the back row, Lombo Pocket Watch was a warm favorite at $2.00 on local totes. In the early stages of the race, the horse Lombo Pocket Watch followed out was passed and finally he settled four back along the inside. As many in the crowd were nervous at the prospect of a Pocket Watch loss, driver Gavin Fitzpatrick sat still calmly waiting for his time to make his move. Racing down the back for the final time in the 2,200 m event Fitzpatrick was finally able to get off the pegs, rounding the final bend Pocket Watch ran into trouble as other horses made their runs, locking wheels with Lombo Limmo at the top of the straight. Setting his sights on leader Gotta Go Cullen, Lombo Pocket Watch picked himself up after having his run halted and proceeded to race past Gotta Go Cullen in the space of 60 m, and by the time he had crossed the line he had opened a 5.7 m gap on Lively Exit, who had been stalking him the final 400 m. The final quarter was covered in 28.5 seconds, but Lombo Pocket Watch's time was certainly at least a seconds quicker than that and done while three, four and five wide around the bend and almost being halted at the top of the straight. This effort prompted many to name him the best 2 year old ever in Australasia^[5]

[edit] Awards

For his outstanding debut season Lombo Pocket Watch earned many awards including the 2006 Australian 2yo Colt/Gelding Pacer of the Year, as well as the overall Australian 2yo Pacer of the Year, and also the prestigious 2006 Australian Harness Horse of the Year, for a season that included 17 wins from 18 race starts, 5 Group One victories and $642,375AUD in prize money.^[6]

Along with the National award Pocket Watch picked up the 2006 Victorian 2yo Pacing Colt/Gelding of the Year, as well as controversially^[7] the 2006 Victorian Horse of the Year, both Victorian awards based only on his Victorian races which included 2 Group one victories.^[8]

Not only did Lombo Pocket Watch sweep the National and Victorian Horse of the Year awards, he also was a large contributor to his mother, Misty Maiden winning the 2006 Winona Award for the Australian Broodmare of the Year, as her only other winner was full sister to Lombo Pocket Watch, Glitznglamma Lombo, who amassed only $4,350 for her single victory^[9]

[edit] 3 Year Old Season (2006-2007)

[edit] Australian Pacing Gold

Lombo Pocket Watch opened his 3 year old season at Moonee Valley with a win in a heat of the Australian Pacing Gold series and proceeded to win the Group 1 final comfortably.

[edit] Victorian Sires Classic

His next assignment was the Group 2 Victorian Sires Classic in which he held off a fast finishing Lively Exit to extend is unbeaten streak to 19 wins in a row.

[edit] Victoria Derby

In his heat of the Victoria Derby Lombo Pocket Watch drew the outside of the back row in the 2100 m race. After moving around the field to sit outside the leader in the death seat, he was unable to overcome the leader and eventual winner, Twelve Paces, a colt that had previously come within a head of beating him. On that occasion Lombo Pocket Watch was successful as Twelve Paces raced greenly and did not run straight. For the first time in his career he did not win a race in which he completed, and registered his first placing. Although he did not salute the judge, he qualified for the $150,000AUD Group One Alabar Victoria Derby, in which he drew barrier 3 and his major rivals drew the back row. Stablemate Lombo Mandingo crossed him at the start but Gavin Fitzpatrick easily went around and lead. From there it was a formality and he raced away to win by 9.3 m in a mile rate of 1.59.2 with a last 800 m of the 2575 m event in 57.2

[edit] Great Northern Derby

Lombo Pocket Watch then crossed the Tasman to New Zealand and to Alexandra Park in Auckland to contest the Great Northern Derby, along with stablemate Lombo Mandingo. He faced many challenges in his attempt to claim the prize, from the long flight over to the clockwise direction of racing at Alexandra Park. Despite this Lombo Pocket Watch was a warm early favorite to win the event before the qualifiers, held a week earlier. His poor performance and subsequent finishing position of fourth lead to his blowout from even money to around the six dollar mark. Although he drew the inside of the back row for the Group One $200,000NZD the final he was able to follow through and eventually get off the pegs with over a lap to run in the final. Heading his stablemate with a lap to run and being challenged by Gotta Go Cullen, Lombo Pocket Watch looked the winner as they entered the straight but was overhauled in the last 100 m by Changeover but held on to finish second.

[edit] Tasmanian Derby

Lombo Pocket Watch was given a short let up after his trip to New Zealand but was headed to Tasmania to the Tasmanian Derby, held at Elwick Racecourse in Hobart on April 1, 2007. Although the race has Group One status, being a Derby, but only carrying $40,000AUD, the Tasmanian Derby didn't have all the stars of some of the other major Derby's. After being eased off the mobile barrier from his back row draw of barrier 10, leading to a $200AUD for Fitzpatrick for being out of position at the start, Lombo Pocket Watch proceeded to work around to the lead to dominate the 2579 m event, finishing in closing sectionals of 30.2, 29.8, 29.1 and 29.1 to run his competitors off their legs in a mile rate of 1.59.7.

[edit] Australian Derby

The following week, April 8, 2007 Lombo Pocket Watch was to be sent around in the Australian Derby, which was also held in Tasmania, although at the Launceston circuit. As with all Derbys the Australian Derby carried Group One status, but also carried $120,000AUD. The increased stake money brought a better class of opposition than Lombo Pocket Watch had faced the previous week exemplified in Lively Exit's attendance. Lombo Pocket Watch had won his 8 contests against Lively Exit, and the barrier draw gave Lively Exit less chance as he was drawn in barrier 5, while Lombo Pocket Watch was drawn to lead from barrier 4. Lombo Pocket Watch dominated the race from start to finish as Gavin Fitzpatrick was allowed to set a slow early tempo and make the 2698 m an 800 m sprint. The final two quarters of the last mile was covered in 28.6 and 27.5 seconds, giving Pocket Watch's rivals little chance of out sprinting the champion.

[edit] New South Wales Derby

Although Lombo Pocket Watch would have been granted a place in the final field, trainer and owner elected to run Lombo Pocket Watch in the qualifier for the New South Wales Derby in an effort to gain race fitness. In this race it was not run to suit as Lombo Pocket Watch couldn't get to the front and was forced to work late on in the race as the leaders dawdled through the early stages, leading to the final two quarters of the last mile being run in 27.9 and 29.3 seconds respectively. This saw him suffer only his fifth defeat in finishing third beaten by only 1.5 m.

The final a week later was a similar result in that around the tight Glebe circuit and after having to do too much work, after not drawing to lead, Lombo Pocket Watch faded to finish fifth, in the closing sectionals of 29.1 and 27.9 seconds respectively in what was the worst result of his illustrious career. The race was taken out by Gotta Go Cullen and allowed Lombo Pocket Watch's rivals in Twelve Paces and Lively Exit to finish before him.

[edit] Vicbred Super Series

His next racetrack appearance was at Shepparton in a heat of the three year old colts and geldings category of the Vicbred Super Series for horses bred in Victoria. Fronting up on May 25, 2007 in the semi final at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne Lombo Pocket Watch lead from barrier 4 and controlled the race, setting the track alight with closing sectionals of 28.8 and 28.2 seconds to record a mile rate of 1.57.7 for the 2,100 m event.

In the final on June 1, 2007 Lombo Pocket Watch was sent out a $1.20 favorite on the local tote. His eighth victory at the home of Victorian harness racing was almost a foregone conclusion when he drew barrier 1. As expected he easily lead and Gavin Fitzpatrick was able to give him plenty of rest early before setting him alight over the final 800 m in 29.3 and 28.2 seconds for the last two quarters leading to a mile rate of 1.58.7, his twelfth sub 2.00 winning mile rate. Winning not only gave Pocket Watch his tenth Group One victory, but the 62% share of the $100,000AUD took his stakes earnings to in excess of $1 million. This is a remarkable feat in that he became the first ever three year old in Australasia to break the $1 million barrier and therefore the youngest ever Australasian millionaire standardbred horse.

[edit] Queensland Derby

After another small let up, Lombo Pocket Watch was set for his fourth Derby victory and a trip to Queensland, after impressing in a Newcastle Guineas victory the week previous. In an even run race at Albion Park in the Queensland Derby Lombo Pocket Watch was again relegated to second when beaten by 2 m by Queenslander Arkamigo after being caught three wide early and then working hard late and unable to reel in the winner.

[edit] Australasian Breeders Crown

In his heat of the Australasian Breeders Crown series for three year old colts and geldings at Harold Park Lombo Pocket Watch cruised to victory and was moving towards a second Breeders Crown series win. In the semi final, held in Ballarat in Victoria Pocket Watch worked hard, but once again held on for victory, progressing to the Group One final, worth $168,000AUD, at the same venue. On August 19, Lombo Pocket Watch again clashed with Changeover in the much anticipated final, and was seen as a chance to even the score at 1-1 following Changeover's Great Northern Derby win on his home soil in New Zealand. This was to be Lombo Pocket Watch's toughest test, as he had drawn a terrible barrier in the back row, while arch rival Changeover was drawn perfectly to lead on the front row. As Changeover sped to the front and driver David Butcher controlled the race, Lombo Pocket Watch and Gavin Fitzpatrick were forced to do all the work circling the field and sitting in the death seat, and by the time they straightened for home he had run his race, fading to finish a commendable forth. Many commentators mused that the outcome would have been different with a reversal of barriers, but that is the unpredictability of racing.

[edit] Awards

For his outstanding three year old season Lombo Pocket Watch was awarded the 2007 Australian 3yo Colt/Gelding of the Year, as well as the Australian 3yo Pacer of the Year, for a season that included 19 starts in Australia and New Zealand, for 12 Australian wins and a total of $452,478AUD.^[10] As well as the National gong, Pocket Watch also received the 2007 Victorian 3yo Pacing Colt/Gelding of the Year, based only on his Victorian results which included 3 Group One races.^[11]

[edit] Four Year Old Season (2007-2008)

Lombo Pocket Watch started out his four year old season on a winning note, taking out a prelude of the Golden Nugget, a group one race for four year olds, at Gloucester Park in Perth and in doing so qualified for the final, although would have been an easy starter.

[edit] McInerney Ford Classic

The following week Pocket Watch backed up in the McInerney Ford Classic, a lead up to the Golden Nugget, worth $100,000AUD and carrying Group One status for the first time, following a stakes increase from $50,000 to $100,000 Pocket Watch was not spectacularly fast in the early stages but driver Gavin Fitzpatrick pushed forward and crossed to the lead around 500 m into the 2130 m race. The $1.40 favorite covered the final 400 m in 28.5 seconds, leading to a mile rate of 1.57.9.

[edit] Golden Nugget

Lombo Pocket Watch was a clear cut $1.30 favourite on local totes in the $175,000AUD Group One Golden Nugget at Gloucester Park in Perth on December 14, 2007. Pocket Watch was in a lot of trouble early as he was severely checked, breaking into a full-stretch gallop, losing 3 lengths. Driver Gavin Fitzpatrick gave Pocket Watch time to balance up and allowed him to move around the field at a steady rate, reaching the death seat with a mile to run in the 2536 m classic. Fitzpatrick asked for a burst at the 600 m, Pocket Watch responded and cleared out by 11 m by the winning post.^[12]

[edit] Western Australian Pacing Cup

In late Decemberof 2007, specualtion was rife that Lombo Pocket Watch may be headed to the WA Pacing Cup, held on January 11, 2008, due to his excellent form and the inability of horses from the Eastern States of Australia to attend the Group One $400,000AUD classic due to equine influenza.^[13] After his emphatic victory in the Golden Nugget Mick Lombardo announced his premier stallion would be set for the cup, ending any doubt.^[14]

In a Free For All in the week leading up to the WA Pacing Cup, Lombo Pocket Watch was sent out at the prohibitive odds of $1.20 on the local tote. After working to the death set early Pocket Watch wilted in the truly run race, to finish fifth, some 20 m from the winner. After the race, driver Gavin Fitzpatrick explained that the horse was only 90% fit, as he had been when beaten in his heat of the Victoria Derby, but that the run would bring him forward and a similar improvement could be expected.^[15]

In the main event a week later, Lombo Pocket Watch started from barrier eight, in the 2,536 m classic and was restrained early. Driver Gavin Fitzpatrick was able to get into a position in the one wide line, and on settling down was midfield, although after a few of the big moves from No Blue Manna and Money Magnet he was slightly better than midfield. When the heat really went into the race over the last 1200 m, Fitzpatrick decided to stay in the one wide line and hope a hole opened up as usually does in such an evenly run race, however, as Garry Hall Junior's drive Franco Amon moved up on his outside Pocket Watch was traveling an obvious winner. Looking for room Pocket Watch was checked turning into the final corner and locked wheels coming out of the corner as he searched for an exit, but with Hall frantically driving his horse and pushing Pocket Watch back into his inside, the hole never appeared and Lombo Pocket Watch went to the line a hard-held forth as he was climbing over the horse in front. The race was taken out by Vanlo Yorker, who only a few months ago was running around as a $5000 claimer.^[16]

[edit] Inter Domion Championships

There had been speculation that Lombo Pocket Watch would contest the 2008 Inter Dominion Championships in Melbourne, but after failing to secure an automatic qualification for the Semi Finals in the Western Australia Pacing Cup, he was sent to spell.

[edit] Vicbred Super Series

After his fourth in the Western Australian Pacing Cup, Lombo Pocket Watch was sent to spell, and brought back into work with the four year old Vicbred Super Series his main aim.

On May 1, 2008, Lombo Pocket Watch started his campaign, winning a heat of the Vicbred Super Series at Ballarat. Leading easily from barrier one in the 2,200 m event, Pocket Watch was unchallenged throughout and was finally let down in the home straight to run his final quarter in 28.6 seconds, and win by 12.4 m.^[17]

Lombo Pocket Watch has the opportunity to join Colbruce as the only horse to have won the Series at 2, 3 and 4. However the feat of Colbruce was more spectacular in that not only did he win the first final as a 2yo, which was later declared a no-race, he won the re-race. It only took Colbruce 18 months to collect his 3 titles as the four year old Series was held in December 1997.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Lombo Pocket Watch's AHRC Online Profile