By Adam Hamilton
IT IS fitting that former Kiwi star Our Sky Major is about to launch the next chapter of his career around Harness Jewels time.
It was this time last year when the then Barry Purdon-trained entire complete an historic Harness Jewels “three-peat” at Ashburton. He won the Jewels finals as a two, three and four-year-old.
Much has changed since and the rising six-year-old is now with young gun trainer Justin Prentice in Western Australia.
Prentice opted to give Our Sky Major a little break when he first arrived in WA, but the son of Art Major is now primed to make his debut in his new home state.
Prentice sharpened-up Our Sky Major for his return with a Bunbury trial last Wednesday night where he sat parked early, worked to the front and won as he liked by 10m. He went a slick 1min56.7sec mile rate for 2100m and closed in splits of 55.9 and 28.3sec.
“He went super, did it really easily and has pulled-up well,” Prentice said. “He’s set to go to the races now.
“I’m keen to build his confidence again, so I’ll look for a race in the country somewhere over the next week or so to start him off and hopefully get an easy kill. It’s important will all horses, especially stallions.”
Our Sky Major was sent to Prentice after finishing sixth to Locharburn in the Easter Cup at Addington on March 26.
“I gave him a week off in the paddock when he got here, just to settle in, get used to the surrounds and relax a bit. He thrived and put on plenty of weight,” Prentice said.
“They told me he was a bit sour and hard to handle when they took him to Sydney, so I was mindful of trying to keep him relaxed.
“Perhaps the most pleasing part of the trial the other day was how relaxed he was. He was beautiful to handle. I’m hoping a happy horse means we’ll see his best form again.
“Ideally I’ll find a couple of easy races for him to start off in, then he can run in a couple of Gloucester Park free-for-alls before I give him another little let-up then set him for the Inter Dominion and Summer Carnival here.”
Prentice is still pinching himself at being given the opportunity to train Our Sky Major.
“It’s such an honour. It is a bit nerve-wracking, but getting a horse like him why we are all in the game,” he said.
“The early signs are good and I can’t wait to get him through those first couple of races.”
In other stable news, Prentice has put his star mare Major Reality out for a spell.
“She was just starting to get a bit sour after her latest run and I’ve got bigger fish to fry with her,” he said.
“She’ll have all of June and the early part of July spelling, then I’ll bring her back for the big mares’ races later in the year and look at taking her to Sydney for the Ladyship Mile.”
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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