Welcome along to this week’s edition of the North Eastern Weekly Wrap. A good week of racing capped off by an emotion charged night at Shepparton Monday night.

Certainly the story of the week was attached to Berserk’s win at Shepparton on Monday Night. It really was a race that touched the heart. Click Here to read a story GRV published recently about owner Ben Cookson, a young man fighting the battle of his life. Unfortunately Ben lost his battle on the weekend but in Race 8 at Shepp Monday Night his beloved Benny went around as favourite. He didn’t begin brilliantly but got clear running early and when there was trouble on the first turn he sprinted around them to get to 2^nd. He raced to the front on the home turn and in the home straight raced clear to win easily.

Prepared by Jason and Seona Thompson, who had become very close friends with the Cookson Family, all Ben’s family and friends no doubt would have been tuned in and would have been proud as punch to see Berserk honour his great mate with a wonderful win. Hopefully with Benny cheering hard from high above Berserk can go on and keep winning. Here is the emotional win.
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Watch: Berserk scores an emotional win at Shepparton on Monday in honour of his owner, Ben Cookson, who passed away on the weekend.
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Monday night saw a number of really impressive winners but none more so than Meadows One in Race 9. Ben Divirgilio really has this guy flying and he has now won his last three, and seven of 12 overall. He is very fast and can keep winning over short trips. Other strong winners included Shanlyn Violet, Tat Jocko, who was electric in 25.30, and in the last Smooth Rebel, who is airborne at the moment.
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Shepparton Monday Results & Replays: Click Here

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Friday saw the beginning of the Bendigo Cup Carnival with heats of the GRV Vic Breeders series. Easily the fastest heat winner was the Brooke Ennis trained Heard It Before. Having had no luck on debut he didn’t jump brilliantly but he got clear running early and he dashed through to lead at the first turn. He then charged clear in the straight to win very very easily (Replay). He has drawn Box 6 in his semi and looks very hard to beat. Other impressive heat winners included Deadly Pace winning in 24.06, the Kelly Bravo trained Zachie Dude, Aston Maveric, who made a stunning debut winning by 7.5 lengths and also Ring The Bell. The semi-finals will be run this Friday for which there will be a preview later in the week.
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Bendigo Friday Results & Replays: Click Here
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Bendigo VBIS Semis Formguide: Click Here
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On to Saturday night at Shepparton and the honours on the night went to the John Magri prepared littermates Punk Pirate and Punk Panther. They won in totally different styles too, as Punk Pirate jumped fast over the 390, railed through to lead then exploded clear in the straight to score in a slick 22.13 (Replay) whereas Punk Panther was slow into stride and made ground on the fence on the first turn. He then got to the outside midrace before storming down the middle in the straight to win very well (Replay). They both have stacks of ability and there will be plenty more wins for sure.

Other winners of note from the card included Pretty Bomb on debut, who won very strongly in the first race, Detroit Tiger, who staved off a fast finishing Rum Island in Race 4, and Unquestionably, who flew in Race 11.
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Shepparton Saturday Results & Replays: Click Here

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Sunday straight racing at Healesville saw eight heats of the Healesville Puppy Championship. The heats were keenly contested races but for mine the most impressive heat winner was Boo Shan in the fourth heat (Replay). He took some time to get balanced but when he hit top gear he sizzled past the leader Splash Of White and won in a very quick time of 16.63.

The fastest heat winner came up in the opening heat where Zoltina’s Legacy came out hard from the outside to lead. He kept running to win easily in a time of 16.60. The other heat winners were Hurry Home Cain, Dozer Tron, Make Us Magic, Red Light Runner, Sheoak Blue Boy and the last heat winner Kosmik King.
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Healesville Sunday Results & Replays: Click Here
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Healesville Puppy Championship Formguide: Click Here

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So that wraps up racing in the North East for the past week; this upcoming week will be very busy with the Semi Finals of the GRV Vic Breeders on Friday, the Healesville Puppy Championship Final and also Heats of the Bendigo Cup, where Fernando Bale is headed on Sunday. There will be previews for all three meetings later in the week. Until then Good Luck and Good Punting.
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Watch: Heard It Before wins was the fastest heat winner of GRV VBIS Maiden series at Bendigo last Friday in 23.87sec.