Lombo Pocket Watch - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Lombo Pocket Watch

Sire:	Jet Laag
Dam:	Misty Maiden
Broodmare Sire:	Windshield Wiper
Sex:	Stallion Stallion (horse) A stallion is a male horse that has not been gelded .Stallions will follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cresty" neck, as well as a somewhat more muscular physique as compared to...
Foaled:	16 October 2003
Country:	Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
Colour:	Grey Grey Grey or gray is an achromatic or neutral color.Complementary colors are defined to mix to grey, either additively or subtractively, and many color models place complements opposite each other in a color wheel. To produce grey in RGB displays, the R, G, and B primary light sources are combined in...
Breeder:	Lombo Standardbreds
Owner:	Lombo Standardbreds
Trainers:	Graeme Tindale, Paul Fitzpatrick
Record:	52:36-7-2
Fastest Mile Rate:	At 2: 1:56.9 At 3: 1:57.6 At 4: 1:55.5
Prizemoney:	$1,401,568
Group One Wins
2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007	Bathurst Gold Crown (2yoc&g) Australian Pacing Gold Australian Pacing Gold The Australian Pacing Gold is standardbred yearling sales company that operate a futurity series for horses sold out of the Australian Pacing Gold sales held all over Australia. The series is well known around Australia for its rich finals, especially for 2 year olds. Currently the two 2 year old... (2yoc&g) Kevin Seymour Nursery (2yoc&g) Vicbred Super Series (2yoc&g) Australasian Breeders Crown Australasian Breeders Crown The Australasian Breeders Crown is a futurity race series for horses bred in Australia and New Zealand. The series is for two, three and four-year-old pacers and trotters.It is held on a Sunday in late August at Tabcorp Park in Melton, Victoria.... (2yoc&g) Australian Pacing Gold Australian Pacing Gold The Australian Pacing Gold is standardbred yearling sales company that operate a futurity series for horses sold out of the Australian Pacing Gold sales held all over Australia. The series is well known around Australia for its rich finals, especially for 2 year olds. Currently the two 2 year old... (3yoc&g) Victoria Derby Victoria Derby (harness) The Victoria Derby is Australia's oldest classic harness race, dating back to 1914 when it was contested on the old Richmond circuit.-Winners:* 1914 Lucap* 1915 Countess Chimes* 1916 Princess Chimes* 1917-1922 not contested* 1923 Vinmont Chimes... (3yo) Tasmanian Derby (3yo) Australian Derby Australian Derby (harness) The Australian Derby is a harness racing event held for 3 year old pacers which has been shared between many of Australia's premier tracks and is currently held annunally at Launceston in Tasmania... (3yo) Vicbred Super Series (3yoc&g) McInerney Ford Classic (4yo) Golden Nugget (4yo)
*Correct as at 13 November 2008

Lombo Pocket Watch is a champion Australian grey Standardbred colt foaled on 16 October 2003 bred and raced by Western Australian owner Mick Lombardo, and was primarily trained near Cawdor

Cawdor, New South Wales

Cawdor is a village of Wollondilly Shire, in the state of New South Wales, Australia.- External links :...

by Paul Fitzpatrick, with son Gavin Fitzpatrick the regular driver.

In his first season of racing as a two year old, he won five Group One

Group One

Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...

(G1) races and was voted the overall 2006 Australian Harness Horse of the Year

Australian Harness Horse of the Year

The Australian Harness Horse of the Year is an honour that recognises the top harness racing horse in the Australia. The award is selected by industry people and media representatives....

, the first two year old to win the award and his earnings of $642,375 was an Australian juvenile record.

As a three year old, he won another five Group One races including three of the prestigious derbies and was voted 2007 Australian 3yo Pacer of the Year.

As a four year old, he won another two Group One races to bring his total to 12 Group One races, and a combined 36 race wins and prizemoney of A$1,401,568.

He stood at stud at Concorde Park in Victoria, Australia, before being brought back into training as a late five year old.

Overview

Nicknamed The Grey Bullet, and known as The People's Champion 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 old colts and geldings.

In his first two full seasons of racing Lombo Pocket Watch has amassed many awards including 2006 Australian Harness Horse of the Year

Australian Harness Horse of the Year

The Australian Harness Horse of the Year is an honour that recognises the top harness racing horse in the Australia. The award is selected by industry people and media representatives....

, as well as the 2006 Australian two-year-old (2yo) Pacer of the Year, Lombo Pocket Watch backed up and won the 2007 Australian 3yo Pacer of the Year. In his two-year-old season Lombo Pocket Watch became the higheat earning 2yo in Australia and his 18 wins put him 3rd on the all-time most season wins for a 2yo. In his 3yo season Pocket Watch broke the all-time stakes winners for 3yo pacers. Lombo Pocket Watch currently sits at 19th on the all-time stakes winners list, and Australasia's youngest millionaire

Millionaire

A millionaire is an individual whose net worth or wealth is equal to or exceeds one million units of currency. It can also be a person who owns one million units of currency in a bank account or savings account...

pacer. Lombo Pocket Watch was retired to stud after winning a 12 Group One races including the time honoured, prestigious Victoria Derby

Victoria Derby (harness)

The Victoria Derby is Australia's oldest classic harness race, dating back to 1914 when it was contested on the old Richmond circuit.-Winners:* 1914 Lucap* 1915 Countess Chimes* 1916 Princess Chimes* 1917-1922 not contested* 1923 Vinmont Chimes...

, as well as the $285,000 two year old colts and geldings Australian Pacing Gold

Australian Pacing Gold

The Australian Pacing Gold is standardbred yearling sales company that operate a futurity series for horses sold out of the Australian Pacing Gold sales held all over Australia. The series is well known around Australia for its rich finals, especially for 2 year olds. Currently the two 2 year old...

and the $284,000 two year old Pacing Colts & Geldings Australasian Breeders Crown

Australasian Breeders Crown

The Australasian Breeders Crown is a futurity race series for horses bred in Australia and New Zealand. The series is for two, three and four-year-old pacers and trotters.It is held on a Sunday in late August at Tabcorp Park in Melton, Victoria....

Breeding and naming

Lombo Pocket Watch was sired by the United States horse Jet Laag who was sired by Laag, out of the Windshield Wiper Australian bred mare Misty Maiden. Misty Maiden won a total of 12 races and $245,449 including the 1992 Australian Derby

Australian Derby (harness)

The Australian Derby is a harness racing event held for 3 year old pacers which has been shared between many of Australia's premier tracks and is currently held annunally at Launceston in Tasmania...

, a race that her son won in 2007 as well as claiming the 1992 Australian 3yo Pacer of the Year. These achievements make them the only mother and son to have won overall Australian 3yo Pacer of the Year as well as the Australian Derby.

His breeder, Mick Lombadro, names all of the horses he breeds as Lombo something, or something Lombo. Registering all the horses before selling many at yearling sales.

Western Australia

After recording two wins from three starts in Western Australia

Western Australia

Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...

, failing to complete the course at his second start when driver Chris Lewis pulled him out of a race at Perth

Perth, Western Australia

Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....

's Gloucester Park

Gloucester Park

Gloucester Park is a harness racing course in Perth, Western Australia. In the suburb of East Perth, the oval course is adjacent to the WACA Ground...

. That would be his only blemish for another 20 starts. Under the care of Graeme Tindale, Lombo Pocket Watch was transferred to New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

for some major races.

NSW Sapling Stakes

Driven in his first start at Harold Park Racetrack by Gavin Fitzpatrick, Lombo Pocket Watch was sent out at long odds of $27.80 on local tote

Tote

Tote may refer to:*Tote, abbreviation for Tote board, the name for the computerised system which runs parimutuel betting, calculating payoff odds, displaying them, and producing tickets based on incoming bets...

s. 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.

Linden Huntly Memorial

Lombo Pocket Watch was then transferred to the care of Paul Fitzpatrick

Paul Fitzpatrick

Paul James Fitzpatrick is an English former professional footballer who scored 17 goals in 218 appearances in the Football League playing for Bolton Wanderers, Bristol City, Carlisle United, Preston North End, Leicester City, Birmingham City, Bury and Northampton Town.Fitzpatrick was born in...

at Cawdor

Cawdor, New South Wales

Cawdor is a village of Wollondilly Shire, in the state of New South Wales, Australia.- External links :...

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

New South Wales

. For the first time in his career he completed a series clean sweep in winning a heat on the Monday, followed by a victory in the Group Two event worth $50,000 on the Saturday night.

Bathurst Gold Crown

The Bathurst Gold Crown for two year old colts and geldings was next on the cards at Bathurst

Bathurst, New South Wales

-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...

, a heat and final series. Lombo Pocket Watch won his heat by 12.4 m and was the second elect in the $100,000 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 won in a photo finish by a neck, giving him his first Group One

Group One

race.

Australian Pacing Gold

With Gavin Fitzpatrick back in the sulky, Lombo Pocket Watch won a heat of the Australian Pacing Gold

Australian Pacing Gold

Series for two year old colts and geldings at Harold Park. The $20,000 heat was followed by a $285,000 final carrying Group One

Group One

status. The final was conducted at Albion Park, the home of Queensland harness racing on 13 May 2006. Lombo Pocket Watch collected the $150,000 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.

Kevin Seymour Nursery

The Kevin Seymour Nursery is a race for two year old colts and geldings named in honour of major Queensland

Queensland

Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...

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 $100,000 and carrying Group One

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.

Vicbred Super Series

Lombo Pocket Watch's sire Jet Laag was at stud in Victoria

Victoria (Australia)

Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....

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

Moonee Valley Racecourse

Moonee Valley Racecourse is a horse-racing track in Melbourne, Australia which hosts races for Thoroughbreds. Located six kilometers from the Melbourne CBD, it is the home of the Moonee Valley Racing Club...

on 7 July 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 14 July 2006 Lombo Pocket Watch competed in the Group One

Group One

, $100,000 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.

Australasian Breeders Crown

The final series of his two year old season was the rich Australasian Breeders Crown

Australasian Breeders Crown

. Lombo Pocket Watch was an obvious favorite to take the Group One

Group One

, $284,000 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 20 August 2006. After drawing barrier 8, the inside of the back row, Lombo Pocket Watch was a warm favorite at $2.00 on local tote

Tote

s. 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

Australasia

Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...

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

Australian Harness Horse of the Year

The Australian Harness Horse of the Year is an honour that recognises the top harness racing horse in the Australia. The award is selected by industry people and media representatives....

, for a season that included 17 wins from 18 race starts, 5 Group One

Group One

victories and $642,375 in prize money.

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

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

Australian Pacing Gold

Lombo Pocket Watch opened his three=year-old season at Moonee Valley with a win in a heat of the Australian Pacing Gold

Australian Pacing Gold

series and proceeded to win the Group 1 final comfortably.

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.

Victoria Derby

In his heat of the Victoria Derby

Victoria Derby (harness)

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 $150,000 Group One

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.

Great Northern Derby

Lombo Pocket Watch then crossed the Tasman

Tasman Sea

The Tasman Sea is the large body of water between Australia and New Zealand, approximately across. It extends 2,800 km from north to south. It is a south-western segment of the South Pacific Ocean. The sea was named after the Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman, the first recorded European...

to New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

and to Alexandra Park

Alexandra Park, Auckland

Alexandra Park is the home of the Auckland Trotting Club in Epsom, Auckland. The park consists of the Alexandra Park Raceway trotting track, conference centre and restaurants. It is also home to many feature harness races, including the Auckland Trotting Cup and the Rowe Cup.It is also the home of...

in Auckland

Auckland

The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...

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

Clockwise

Circular motion can occur in two possible directions. A clockwise motion is one that proceeds in the same direction as a clock's hands: from the top to the right, then down and then to the left, and back to the top...

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

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

Changeover (horse)

Changeover is a New Zealand Standardbred racehorse. He is most noted for winning the New Zealand Trotting Cup in 2008, where he posted a race record time of 3:56.4. His other achievements include winning the Great Northern and New Zealand Derbies, the 3YO Emerald and 4YO Emerald at the Harness...

but held on to finish second.

Tasmanian Derby

Lombo Pocket Watch was given a short let up after his trip to New Zealand

New Zealand

but was headed to Tasmania

Tasmania

Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...

to the Tasmanian Derby, held at Elwick Racecourse in Hobart on 1 April 2007. Although the race has Group One

Group One

status, being a Derby, but only carrying $40,000, 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 $200 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.

Australian Derby

The following week, 8 April 2007 Lombo Pocket Watch was to be sent around in the Australian Derby

Australian Derby (harness)

The Australian Derby is a harness racing event held for 3 year old pacers which has been shared between many of Australia's premier tracks and is currently held annunally at Launceston in Tasmania...

, which was also held in Tasmania

Tasmania

, although at the Launceston

Launceston, Tasmania

Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...

circuit. As with all Derbys the Australian Derby carried Group One

Group One

status, but also carried $120,000. 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

Tempo

In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...

and make the 2698 m an 800 m sprint

Sprint (race)

Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...

. 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.

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

New South Wales Derby

The New South Wales Derby is a classic harness racing competition for three-year-old horses held annually at Harold Park in Sydney....

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

Harold Park Paceway

Harold Park Paceway was a harness racing track in Glebe, New South Wales. It was a half-mile track but was just 739m in circumference until some changes in recent years...

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.

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

Victoria (Australia)

. Fronting up on 25 May 2007 in the semi final at Moonee Valley Racecourse

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 1 June 2007 Lombo Pocket Watch was sent out a $1.20 favorite on the local tote

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

Group One

victory, but the 62% share of the $100,000 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

Australasia

to break the $1 million barrier and therefore the youngest ever Australasian millionaire

Millionaire

standardbred horse.

Queensland Derby

After another short let up, Lombo Pocket Watch was set for his fourth Derby victory and a trip to Queensland

Queensland

, after impressing in a Newcastle

Newcastle, New South Wales

The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...

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.

Australasian Breeders Crown

In his heat of the Australasian Breeders Crown

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

Group One

final, worth $168,000, at the same venue. On 19 August, Lombo Pocket Watch again clashed with Changeover

Changeover

In manufacturing, changeover is the process of converting a line or machine from running one product to another. Changeover times can last from a few minutes to as much as several weeks in the case of automobile manufacturers retooling for new models. The terms set-up and changeover are sometimes...

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

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

David Butcher

David John Butcher is a former New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.He represented the electorate of Hastings in Parliament from 1978 to 1990, when he was defeated by Jeff Whitaker: one of a number of losses contributing to the fall of the Fourth Labour Government...

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.

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 $452,478. 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.

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.

McInerney Ford Classic

The following week Pocket Watch backed up in the McInerney Ford Classic, a lead up to the Golden Nugget, worth $100,000 and carrying Group One

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.

Golden Nugget

Lombo Pocket Watch was a clear cut $1.30 favourite on local totes

Totes

Totes»ISOTONER is an international umbrella, footwear, and cold weather accessory supplier. The company is based in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. Totes is the largest supplier of umbrellas in the world with divisions in the United States, Canada, UK, and France...

in the $175,000 Group One

Group One

Golden Nugget at Gloucester Park

Gloucester Park

Gloucester Park is a harness racing course in Perth, Western Australia. In the suburb of East Perth, the oval course is adjacent to the WACA Ground...

in Perth

Perth, Western Australia

on 14 December 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.

Western Australian Pacing Cup

In late December 2007, speculation was rife that Lombo Pocket Watch may be headed to the WA Pacing Cup, held on 11 January 2008, due to his excellent form and the inability of horses from the Eastern States of Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

to attend the Group One

Group One

$400,000 classic due to equine influenza. After his emphatic victory in the Golden Nugget Mick Lombardo announced his premier stallion would be set for the cup, ending any doubt.

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.

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.

Inter Domion Championships

There had been speculation that Lombo Pocket Watch would contest the 2008 Inter Dominion

Inter Dominion

The Inter Dominion is a harness racing competition that has been contested since 1936 in Australia and New Zealand. The host of the series is rotated between the six harness racing states of Australia and the North and South Islands of New Zealand...

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.

Vicbred Super Series

After his fourth in the Western Australian Pacing Cup, Lombo Pocket Watch was sent to spell, being brought back into work with becoming only the second horse to win all 3 age groups of the Vicbred Super Series. Colbruce has been the only horse to complete the treble, winning in 1996, 1997 and 1997 under different programming.

On 1 May 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.

In the final he was defeated by Melpark Major.

Len Smith Mile

After finishing forth in the high class Victorian Four and Five Year Old Championship to Smoken Up, Lombo Pocket Watch was transferred to Sydney and aimed at the inaugural Len Smith Mile, a Group 1 free-for-all held over a mile on the new 1400 m track at Menangle Park.

On 29 June 2008, after contesting a free-for-all at Harold Park

Harold Park Paceway

Harold Park Paceway was a harness racing track in Glebe, New South Wales. It was a half-mile track but was just 739m in circumference until some changes in recent years...

the previous Friday, Lombo Pocket Watch contested the Len Smith Mile. After looking the winner early in the straight, Pocket Watch failed to reel in the leader Smoken Up over the final few hundred metres and was resigned to second place by a short half-head. The time for the mile was 1:51.9, which is the current Australasian record.

Chariots of Fire

In preparation for the 2008 Courage Under Fire Chariots of Fire

Chariots of Fire (harness race)

The Chariots of Fire is the single richest four-year-old harness race for Standardbreds in Australia.- Winners list :...

, Lombo Pocket Watch won two country free-for-all's at Menangle and Newcastle, the latter in 1:55.5, complete with a 26.0 second final quarter.

On 8 August 2008, Lombo Pocket Watch was one of two horses invited to contest the premier four year old race of Australia, held at Harold Park

Harold Park Paceway

Harold Park Paceway was a harness racing track in Glebe, New South Wales. It was a half-mile track but was just 739m in circumference until some changes in recent years...

in New South Wales

New South Wales

, 2008 Courage Under Fire Chariots of Fire along with Vicbred Super Series Champion Melpark Major.

In a final lead up race, Lombo Pocket Watch was defeated at Harold Park by Make Me Smile, unfortunately for connections, it was a sign of what was to come. Lombo Pocket Watch was defeated in a photo finish in what was to be his final race track appearance by New Zealand import Ebony Gem, officially the margin was 0.5 m, in a mile rate of 1:57.4 for the 2,160 m race.

Five Year Old Season (2008-2009)

Lombo Pocket Watch returned to the track with three wins during June, followed by a second in the 4 & 5 Year-Old Championship at Albion Park in Brisbane. Injury prevented him from continuing his campaign in Brisbane.

Six Year Old Season (2009-2010)

Lombo Pocket Watch's first run at six was a second at Harold Park in late September. He then ran in the Gold Coast Cup on 2 October, where he ran eighth behind Blacks A Fake after being three-wide without cover for the last lap. He then ran in Gr.1 Queensland Pacing Championship on 9 October, again at Gold Coast, in which he finished a luckless seventh.

Stud career

Lombo Pocket Watch stood the 2008-2009 breeding season at owner Mick Lombardo's Concorde Park, Congupna, near Shepparton

Shepparton, Victoria

Shepparton is a city located on the floodplain of the Goulburn River in the north east of Victoria, Australia approximately north-east of Melbourne. It is the fifth largest city in Victoria, Australia. The estimated population of Shepparton's statistical area is 48,926.It began as a sheep station...

in Victoria. He stood for a fee of $3,300. However, a disappointing response to his stud career led to him being brought back into training.

External links

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