MOJO Major passed another test in regaining his mojo with a gutsy win in last Friday’s Oberon Cup, the feature at Bathurst’s Group One Feeds Paceway.
The Art Major son prevailed in a desperate finish from favourite Saloon Passage NZ, after the pair cleared away from the field over the final 600 metres and settled down to a stirring two-horse war, that recalled for some the Bonecrusher- Our Waverley epic 30 years ago.
The battle continued into the stewards’ room, with Nathan Hurst alleging interference at the point in the back straight where both horses made their runs, but stewards ruled otherwise, and the winning streak extended to three for the KerryAnn Turner-trained visitor.
Driver Robbie Morris explained that the five-year-old “has a lot of ability, but he’s not mentally strong, so we’ve decided to set him for some nice races away from Menangle as a way to build up his confidence.”
Wins at Penrith, Maitland and now Bathurst have vindicated that decision, and judging by the way he knuckled down for the battle in the Bathurst home stretch, he’s growing into a man.
The mile rate for the testing 2260 metre trip was a solid 1:57.8 (last half 57.8 seconds), and Lexus On The Beach was a distant third, running home well after working clear.
While part-owner and race sponsor Ray Mawhood was sorely disappointed not to score a “hometown win” in the Cup with Saloon Passage, several wins on the night by locals drew warm applause from the big crowd of supporters who travelled in to Bathurst for the Oberon Community night.
Miss Rodriguez, trained by Wayne White, responded to desperate driving from Jason Turnbull, her regular pilot, to nab leader Power Of Red right on the line in a C2- class Menangle Country Series heat, for her first win in three runs back this season. Mile rate for the sprint journey was 1:56.3.
Rocknroll And Rolln made it a double for Oberon trainers named Wayne – in this case, Watterson – when he proved too strong in a C0/C1 sprint after sitting outside the lead, to hold off the sprint-laning Cherry Mahoney. The four-year-old is known as “Elvis” around the stable, and the win drew more than a few “thank-you-very-much” comments from punters who supported the second-favourite.
That was also the response from Rebecca Walsh, the C.E.O. Of Ronald McDonald House at nearby Orange, the charity which benefited by more than $4,000 from the fund-raising on the night, through auctions of that celebrated Oberon lamb and beef, and a monster raffle.
Other winners at the meeting were:
Tuapeka Glory NZ (Wendy/Emma Turnbull), in a C0 Menangle Country Series heat, three-wide for much of the last lap and finishing strongly for an impressive win;
Casino Tommy (Steve/Mitch Turnbull), in a C2 sprint, holding on by a half-neck after enjoying the run of the race in the one-one;
My Lucky Belle NZ (Ash Grives), in a strong C3/C5 sprint, the night’s longest-priced winner at $18.30, handing up early and getting a lovely run behind the speed;
Royal Story (Bernie Hewitt), a most impressive winner on debut, in 3YO class, holding the lead and sprinting right away at the end, and earning Anthony Manton’s Drive-Of-The-Night award;
Spare The Price (Chris/ Anthony Frisby), in C0/C1 grade, sitting behind the lead and too strong over the concluding stages for her third win.
Bathurst HRC will play host visitors from interstate this Wednesday, when former Gold Crown Honouree Chris Alford will lead a team of five drivers from Victoria competing against five of Bathurst’s best, in the inaugural Interstate Drivers Challenge, between sister-clubs Bathurst and Bendigo.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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