Prime example why first win bonus needs to be extended

LATE bloomer Lets Go Again is the ideal reason why the Vicbred first win bonus should be a lifetime offering not a limited season opportunity according to trainer Terry Sinclair.

As it stands, an eligible pacer or trotter receives a minimum of $8000 on top of the winners' share of the prizemoney for a maiden win.

The bonus, however, is only paid in full up until the end of the four-year-old season.

Any first win from five and older receives half the funds.

Enter Lets Go Again, which made his debut last May at the ripe age of nine!

Given two starts before a short break, the son of Changeover returned with a first-up victory in Cranbourne last night.

"It's taken him a while to get his career going, but not through any fault of his own," Sinclair said. "As a four-year-old he fractured a leg and X-rays showed calcification of previous break.

"We pinned his leg, gave him plenty of time to recover from that, then he tore a tendon in his offside front and was off for another year.

"He then went through a stage where he always had a runny nose, which took a long time to go away and then whenever I was driving another horse in front of him I could hear his lungs gurgling.

"I've got that sorted and he's breathing a hell of a lot better."

Showing no signs of any problems during his latest outing, Lets Go Again was driven to perfection by concession reinsman Blake Pace, who eased the gelding away from the mobile to avoid any speed battles from gate four.

Gaining a three-wide trail leaving the back straight, Lets Go Again quickly sprinted to the lead before staving off a late charge from Midnite Desire to score by a head.

In a 'blanket' finish, Abraham was a head away third in 2:00.9 over a mile.

"The way he sprinted was a surprise to say the least," Sinclair said. "Once he hit the front though he stopped and looked for the others.

"He's a nine-year-old going on two as he doesn't know how to race.

"Even at home he is mainly worked on his own and is such a lazy type...a terrible track worker.

"He is also a massive 18 hands, pretty much a drought horse, which can't wear normal pacing shoes and has warm blood shoes on him.

"His size is one reason he didn't race early, then all his problems started at four and it is horses like him why the first win bonus should be available regardless of when they break their maiden.

"A horse's first win is still the first win whether they're two or 12, there is no solid reason why that first win bonus doesn't remain in place, in full, for the entire career!"