Major Crocker gets up on the inside in last year's Breeders Crown Final.
Last season’s Breeders Crown and Southern Cross winning gelding Major Crocker returned to the winners’ list last night at Kilmore and took a step closer to securing more silverware.
The victory in the Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series 4YO Entires and Geldings Fifth Heat locked in a semi-final berth for Major Crocker, who finished second in the Super Series last year to Messini.
Trainer Vince Vallelonga freshened the son of Art Major/Aratusa Lass up for last night’s assignment after a below-par 10th in the TAB.com.au Rising Stars Final at Melton last month.
Vallelonga reported the gelding had pulled up from that race a virus and said he felt the Group 1 winner was back to his best, though not fully wound up last night.
“The only thing he probably lacks is a bit of race fitness,” Vallelonga said ahead of last night’s victory.
Forced to work early through the quickest lead time of the night for the 2180-metre trip (39.7secs), Major Crocker eventually found the front ahead of polemarker The Fat Man.
Greg Sugars was able to apply the brakes through the second quarter after an opening split of 30.6secs, the much needed reprieve coming via a 31.8secs second stanza.
The pace went on again through the third quarter (29.2secs) as Barimah in the breeze tried to eyeball the leader.
In the straight Sugars and Major Crocker kicked on strongly and held firm through a 29.2secs final quarter, The Fat Man (Chris Alford) finishing along the sprint lane to grab second, while Field Major (Troy McDonald) flashed home for third.
Barimah (Damian Wilson) battled on for fourth and Okelerho Lad (Matthew Craven) ran fifth from his outside-back-row draw.
The mile rate was 1:58.5.
The other Super Series heat for the night was the fifth heat of the 4YO mares’ division, taken out by $1.20 favourite – and reigning series champion – My Bella Starr for trainer Adam Kelly and driver Gavin Lang.
The daughter of Art Major/Badland’s Legend rated 2:00.6 to hold off Fullness Of Time (Neil McCallum) by three metres, with Indiana Angel (Rodney Petroff) third, So Demanding (Chris Alford) fourth and Petite Agee (Scott Stewart) fifth.
4YO ENTIRES & GELDINGS 5th HEAT
Finishing order
Video replay
4YO MARES 5th HEAT
Finishing order
Video replay
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