Michael Bellman urges Major Crocker to victory in the Blakes A Fake Free For All.
Further Breeders Crown glory is firmly in the eyeline of Major Crocker’s connections after their in-form five-year-old dominated a quality field at Tabcorp Park Melton.
Amid resuming Grand Circuit quality entires Flaming Flutter and Messini, it was Major Crocker who found the front in Michael Bellman’s hands and never looked back, claiming the Blacks A Fake Free For All for trainer Vince Vallelonga with a bit of change in the bank.
“Vince has done a great job with him, getting him back home and up and firing, and the best part about tonight was he did it pretty easy,” Bellman said.
To the delight of owner Gary Crocker, manager of the Walk Proud syndicate who owns the five-year-old Art Major gelding, Major Crocker showed no ill effects of his Albion Park venture to contest the Group 2 Sunshine Sprint and Group 1 Ubet Blacks A Fake.
He finished sixth and fourth in those respective races, and look seasoned and fit against rivals early in their campaigns to win by 3.6m from Metro Mike, with Messini a short-half-head third.
Bellman took the ascendancy out of barrier five, taking the lead with Flaming Flutter on his back while Messini took the breeze. The group bunched when it came to hit the line, but Major Crocker maintained his lead for a 20th win to close in on the half-million stakes mark, rewarding loyal owner Gary Crocker.
“Gary loves it, they all do – they all love winning and it’s just good to be a part of that ride,” Bellman said.
“I always like to come any time that he races and I’ve been to Brisbane and Vince has done a fantastic job,” Crocker said.
“Michael thought he could lead and he said he only just let him go about halfway down the straight. It was pretty good.”
Plans are for Major Crocker to return to Tabcorp Park Melton for Breeders Crown, the stage that produced his shining moment in 2014 when he won the three-year-old classic.
“That was unbelievable and he will be back here on the 26th of August,” Crocker said.
Media enquiries:
Michael Howard (HRV Media/Communications Co-Ordinator)
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