What’s better than one Gr.1?
Two, obviously.
And that’s the case for New Zealand horseman Brad Williamson following his victory in tonight’s Gr.1 $100,000 TAB Australian Trotting Grand Prix at TABCORP Park, Melton when Majestic Man proved too classy defeating Pink Galahs and Monaro Mia.
Arriving on Australian soil just over a month ago as a Gr.1 maiden, Williamson has now snared himself a double courtesy of Majestic Man.
The gifted trotter claimed the $50,000 Dullard Cup on January 30 before dominating tonight in the Grand Prix.
Facing a second line draw in the 2240m mobile start feature, Williamson drove skillfully early to seize an opportunity while avoiding early trouble when Robbie Royale and then Sparkling Success went roughly before aggressively chasing him forward to find the lead from the well-fancied Magicool as they passed the mile marker.
It was a daring early move from the young Kiwi reinsman.
Pure aggression.
But a move that paid dividends.
The lead time was covered in 45.7 seconds.
Majestic Man settled perfectly in the lead role with Magicool sitting behind him while Tornado Valley worked forward to face the breeze.
The big trio in betting occupied the top three positions and controlled the tempo perfectly.
The first half of the final mile was covered in splits of 31.1 and 30.5 seconds
Entering the backstraight for the final time, Majestic Man trotted flawlessly as Williamson started to tighten the screws on his rivals with pressure intensifying.
The third quarter was timed in 28.5 seconds.
Majestic Man looked full of running at the top of the home straight and easily shook off the challenge from Tornado Valley while Magicool could not respond to the pressure.
In the straight, Majestic Man scored convincingly from the fast-finishing mares Pink Galahs (outside) and Monaro Mia (inside).
The final quarter was 28.5 seconds.
The winning mile rate was 1:58.1 (well outside of his own track record – 1:55.4) with the winning margin being posted at 4.6 metres with a further 1.5 metres back to third.
Magicool wound up in 5th placing while Tornado Valley finished 8th.
McLovin was declared a late scratching late in the afternoon.
The victory provided trainer Phil Williamson (Brad’s father) with his second Grand Prix victory following his original success with Allegro Agitato back in 2005.
Majestic Man is a six-year-old gelding is by star sire Majestic Son from the Holdonmyheart mare Love Hate Revenge, the victory provided Majestic Son with his first winner of the event.
First staged in 2001, New Zealand bred trotters have won 14 of the 20 editions staged to date.
The Australian Pacing Gold Trotting Masters heads across the ditch with Alexandra Park, Auckland set to play host to the next two legs of the series.
The Anzac Cup on April 23 will be followed by the Rowe Cup a fortnight later.
Following the Great Southern Star and the Grand Prix, Majestic Man leads the Trotting Masters with 140 points.
