Mark Pitt and Major Secret soak up the adulation after winning the Geelong Cup.
The secret’s out after another Emma Stewart runner reinforced his standing as a free-for-all contender in the stable’s Flying Brick Cider Co. Geelong Pacing Cup triumph.
Major Secret did plenty in the running but had enough in the tank to round the leader, stablemate Metro Mike, and hold at bay Grand Circuit quality competitors to claim the bulk of the $30,000 prize.
The briskly run race thrilled a considerable crowd that attended Geelong Trots showcase event, with gate takings up 48 per cent, dining up 191 per cent and on-course wagering up 13 per cent.
Mark Pitt, driver of Major Secret, said the six-year-old Art Major had enjoyed a stellar campaign.
“He has gone through his grades as good as he can and he’s handling the move to free for all level really well,” Pitt said. “Once you get to that stage it has got to pan out a bit their way in the run, but he is pretty versatile.”
Major Secret’s victory propelled him to second on the 2016-17 Trots Country Cups Championship, having added four points to his tally and boosted him to within one point of the $25,000 series’ leader Hectorjayjay.
More points are likely to come if Saturday night’s performance was a gauge, when Major Secret started solidly from gate nine and then Pitt advanced him from one-out three-back to take the breeze first time down the back straight.
“There was a bit of speed on the front line, but when the whole tempo slowed I made my move and was able to control the race from there,” Pitt said. “Breeze is better than three-wide. I was a little worried when Cyrus went forward and couldn’t get the breeze and had to back off, but when they backed off the opportunity was there to take it.”
He nestled beside stablemate and leader Metro Mike and they controlled the race through modest 30.7 and 31.2 first and second quarters, leaving enough in the tank to come home in a 54.8s last 800m that would keep at bay the talented swoopers.
“It was a really good run,” Pitt said. “(Major Secret) was travelling as good as any, I was a little worried that Tee Cee Bee Macray or Messini may come from the back, but when they are running those sectionals it is hard for them to get ground.”
It was also a pleasing result for trainer Emma Stewart, who said her three runners “all went super”.
“I couldn’t be happier,” Stewart said. “Young Modern also pulled a length off Tee Cee Bee Macray, so we were very happy with all three and it was great to see Major Secret get the win.”
Roly Wilson’s unheralded veteran Kotare Roland produced a superb second placing when Neil McCallum was snapping at the victor’s heels via the sprint lane, with Metro Mike holding third ahead of favourites Messini ($3.90) and Tee Cee Bee Macray ($2.50).
The considerable crowd in attendance also got a thrill when Lord Liam flew home to win the Easywaste Waste Management McNamara Memorial Trotters Cup for trainer Nicole Molander and driver Greg Sugars.
Media enquiries:
Michael Howard (HRV Media/Communications Co-Ordinator)
t: 03 8378 0286 | e: mhoward@hrv.org.au | tw: @MichaelRHoward
