Major Major lives up to trainer’s hopes
Major Major has found a happy home with Greg Hickman at Warwick Farm and has rewarded the trainer with victory at Randwick.
Hickman became the seven-year-old’s fourth trainer earlier this year and targeted Saturday’s Heritage Society Hcp (2400m) some time ago.
At his sixth start for Hickman, Major Major ($6) overhauled Lie Direct ($11) to win by half a length on the heavy track.
“When he came to me I went through his form and he has won her before on a wet track over the 2400 metres so I thought I would try to replicate that,” Hickman said.
“We set this plan in place some time ago and it’s great when it comes off.
“He is a lovely horse and a happy horse and Brenton (Avdulla) rode him super.
“I’m so pleased and there’s another race like this in a couple of weeks so hopefully he can do it again.”
By Encosta De Lago, Major Major is the second living foal out of triple Group One winner Private Steer who ran third to the Hickman-trained Royal Purler in the 2002 Flight Stakes.
“It brings back memories seeing her name there,” Hickman said.
The win helps consolidate Avdulla’s position at the top of the NSW standings as he maintains a healthy lead over country champion Greg Ryan.
Hugh Bowman, who has spent a good part of this season overseas, has conceded the Sydney premiership to James McDonald who is riding for Godolphin in England.
In McDonald’s absence, Bowman snared the plum mount on the Godolphin stable’s Farolitas in the Shoot Out Mile.
The second favourite at $3.60, Farolitas maintained a midfield position until Bowman eased him forward in the straight.
Farolitas responded to beat Zayam ($10) by 1-1/4 lengths to win back-to-back races over the tough 1600m at Randwick.
The four-year-old could well be back later in the year for a crack at Sydney’s premier summer race, the Group Two Villiers (1600m),
“He might be a Villiers horse,” stable representative Darren Beadman said.
“It was a typical Hugh Bowman ride on a horse who ticks all the boxes and is in a purple patch of form.”