Sutton was able to spear the Russell Jack-trained Somebeachsomewhere five-year-old gelding from a second two draw to the front-running position within 50 metres of the start of the 2678m marathon and was never in danger of defeat after that.
The NSW visitor Sporty Dancer finished the race off nicely after a cosy run to finish second, but over 14 metres from the winner, while Hashtag got the verdict in a three-way battle for third place along with a brave Boy From Bondi and Would You Mind.
It was a top training feat as Boots Electric had not raced since the start of November and had not won in his other six outings for Jack before that.
Jack said he was still ‘‘working out’’ Boots Electric but added the pacer had a lot of natural ability.
Punters thought that too and sent out the pacer a $2.30 favourite despite a two-month break from racing.
Jack on Monday was still pondering whether to tackle the Shepparton Gold Cup on this Saturday, noting it was a significant jump up in class from the Cobram assignment.
X Veteran Moama trainer Tony Peacock combined with another veteran to claim the Central Murray Credit Union Cobram Trotter Cup to complete a 16-year double at Cobram on Sunday.
The other veteran, 77-year-old reinsman marvel Brian Gath was in the sulky on the Peacock prepared Illawong Stardust who ran her rivals ragged in the 2678m marathon.
Coming off a 10m backmark Gath was able to make an early move around the field on the five-year-old Muscle Hill mare to take up the front running and dictated terms from then on.
On the home bend the runner-up Well Defined looked like making a race of it but Illawong Stardust responded like the good trotter she is to pull clear of her rivals.
Third home was the Andy Gath-trained Scallywag Sam while the Mick Blackmore prepared Jackson Square, who did all the heavy lifting in the run, battled on well for fourth.
Illawong Stardust pulled off a blistering 28.4 last quarter to shake off her rivals and her overall mile rate of 2.03.5 for the long trip was comparable with the other 13 runnings of the race over the present trip.
Despite a bold second placing in the Vicbred Super Series final on New Year’s Eve and an unlucky fifth before that in the Inter Dominion Trotters Championship final, punters strangely shied off Illawong Stardust, who paid a generous $3.80 for the win, preferring to stick with another Inter finalist Humble Lad, a $3.10 chance, who ruined his chances with an early break.
Peacock has had Illawong Stardust for 11 of her 35 starts and has been able to find the key to the former wayward trotter producing her for two wins and seven top three finishes.
Peacock was weighing up after the win whether there was a suitable race on Shepparton Gold Cup night this Saturday night for Illawong Stardust but said he preferred to give the talented mare at least two weeks between runs.
The win completed the Trotters and Pacers double 16 years apart for Peacock who prepared Kaka Point Cracker to win the Cobram Pacers Cup in 2006.
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