Lombo Pocket Watch - Two Year Old Season (2005-2006)

Two Year Old Season (2005-2006)

After recording two wins from three 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, Lombo Pocket Watch was transferred to New South Wales for some major races.

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 totes in the NSW Sapling Stakes. He won a 5 m victory in a mile rate of 2.01.1. 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 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.

In the Bathurst Gold Crown at Bathurst, a heat and final series, Lombo Pocket Watch won his heat by 12.4 m and was the second elect in the $100,000 final, behind stablemate Lombo Mandingo. Fitzpatrick elected to drive Lombo Mandingo in the final and freelance driver Greg Bennett picked up the drive on Lombo Pocket Watch. Lombo Pocket Watch won in a photo finish by a neck, giving him his first Group One race.

With Fitzpatrick back in the sulky, Lombo Pocket Watch won a $20,000 heat of the Australian Pacing Gold Series for two year old colts and geldings at Harold Park. The $285,000 Group One 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, beating Twelve Paces by a half head. Lombo Pocket Watch next contested the Kevin Seymour Nursery. In another heat and final series Lombo Pocket Watch won his heat in 1.59.5 and the final in 1.59.2.

Pocket Watch then contested the Vicbred Super Series. He won his heat at Shepparton and his semi-final at Moonee Valley on 7 July 2006 in 2.03.3 despite a slow early pace. On 14 July 2006 Lombo Pocket Watch competed in the Group One, $100,000 final. Starting in barrier 2 outside stablemate Lombo Mandingo, Pocket Watch began well and Fitzpatrick pushed for the lead which was surrendered by Lombo Mandingo and Fitzpatrick's brother Blake. Pocket Watch cleared out to win by 13.5 m from Lombo Mandingo in a time of 1.57.9.

Lombo Pocket Watch's final series of the season was the Australasian Breeders Crown. He was favorite to take the 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. Pocket Watch won the final at Ballarat 20 August 2006 beating Gotta Go Cullen.

Lombo Pocket Watch was named 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 $642,375 in prize money. He was also named the 2006 Victorian 2yo Pacing Colt/Gelding of the Year, as well as the 2006 Victorian Horse of the Year, both Victorian awards based only on his Victorian races which included 2 Group one victories. Pocket Watch's dam, Misty Maiden was awarded the 2006 Winona Award for the Australian Broodmare of the Year.