By Tayler StrongThe 2-year-old trotter Majestic Man displayed the potential to achieve major success with his first up win at Forbury Park last night.
Majestic Man left stride in the early stages and he stormed home from seven lengths from the lead at the 300m to win by a nose in the hands of Brad Williamson.
Majestic Man is trained at Oamaru by the master of trotters, Phil Williamson. The son of Majestic Son-Love Hate Revenge had a second to Aoraki at Ashburton and a win at Oanaru in trials beforehand.
Majestic Man is raced by the Griffins syndicate, who race Monty Python, winner of 11 races, including the Group Three Southern Lights from the Williamson stable.
The syndicate, Christchurch breeder Neil Bennett and the LHR syndicate won seven races with Sol Invictus, a half-brother by Sundon to Majestic Man trained by Michael House.
The Griffins Syndicate, including Bennett, bred Majestic Man, the fifth foal of Love Hate Revenge, a Holdonmyheart mare who was a winner. She is also the dam of winners Bet Pray Love and Daiquiri. Bet Pray Love was retired and served by Windsong Espoir this season. Love Hate Revenge is in foal to the same sire imported by House.
The Griffins Syndicate have Monty Python on lease from Keith and Bevan Grice. They won six races with Sarah Palin, a sister to Monty Python, trained by Margot Nyhan, before relinquishing the lease.
The syndicate with the Seafield Trotting syndicate, also race Dark Horse, a half-sister by Bacardi Lindy to Monty Python and Sarah Palin. The 4-year-old Dark Horse trained by Nathan Williamson has won five from 12 starts.
Reinsman Ricky May gave credit to trainers Greg and Nina Hope after he drove Cullenz Diamond to a maiden win.
“The Hopes have only had her a fortnight. She had a lot of issues,’’ said May.
The 4-year-old mare had six minor placings in 14 starts when first trained by Brendon Hill and later May and his father, Terry.
Cullenz Diamond is raced by Ricky’s wife, Judy and Ian Dobson. They bred Cullenz Diamond from a mating of the Dobson-owned Christian Cullen and Ruby Wax, an unraced mare owned by Judy.
The first foal of Ruby Wax (Falcon Seelster–Illustrious Lady) was Ten Diamonds, who won seven races with Judy in the ownership. The Mays were acutely disappointed when Ten Diamonds went amiss and could not be saved for breeding.
Ruby Wax did not produce a foal for another five years when she left Diamond King (two wins from two starts in NZ).
“Ian offered to put Ruby Wax in foal to Christian Cullen if I looked after the foal,” said Judy. Ricky drove the Dobson-owned Mainland Banner in her 17 wins including the 2005 New Zealand Cup.
Jimmy Bond, the owner of Explosive Star was on hand to see his trotter lead throughout on Thursday night. Bond, who turned 77 last month, trained and drove Crafty Kobba to win a heat and final of the Four-Year-Old Championship at Forbury Park in 1985.
“We put half blinkers on him (Explosive Star) tonight and Blair (Orange, the driver) said he was never off the bit,’’ said Bond, whose son Lyndon took over as the official trainer for the Mataura stable three years ago. It was the third win for Explosive Star since Jimmy leased the Great Success 6-year-old this season from clients of the Michael Heenan stable.
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