Boyanup trainer-reinsman Justin Prentice couldn’t be happier with the form and fitness of star mare Major Reality and although he concedes the four-year-old faces a test from the outside barrier and against some smart mares, including Am Opulent, Robyns C C and Bonny Under Fire, he is confident she will prove very hard to beat in the first heat of the 2130m Slater Gartrell Sports Jake and Lola Johnson Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The No. 9 barrier will test Major Reality, who is aiming to extend her winning sequence to nine. She ended her three-year-old season with a win and has won at her first seven starts this season, boosting her earnings to $243,767 from 14 wins and four placings from just 21 starts.
“She has set the pace every time in this preparation,” Prentice said. “This race is going to be tougher and she is unlikely to be able to get to an early lead from the outside barrier.
“However, she is a versatile mare and it doesn’t matter where she ends up. She came from behind to win the Oaks last May. I’ve been super happy with her and I didn’t move on her at her latest start, at Pinjarra, when she ran the final quarter in 26.5sec.
“She will continue racing and after contesting a couple of events for mares in May I’ll send her for a spell before bringing her back for the rich mares events in November and December.”
Am Opulent, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, has won only once from her past 20 starts, but she is knocking on the door. She began brilliantly from barrier five in the Golden Girls Classic over 1684m at Pinjarra on Monday, but although she got a good half-length clear she was unable to cross the polemarker All About Pink. The blistering opening quarter in 25.8sec. took its toll, but she did well to battle on into fifth place behind The Parade.
The Nathan Turvey-trained Robyns C C has been a model of consistency this season and she looks a major player from the coveted No. 1 barrier. She relished her frontrunning role when a winner over Bonny Under Fire over 1730m two starts ago.
Bonny Under Fire is nicely drawn at barrier two and trainer Ross Olivieri declared her an each-way prospect after her solid wins over 2139m at her past two starts.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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