The foundation horse at Bryce Heys’ stable has finally delivered the trainer his first city win at Randwick in spectacular style.
Before Saturday’s HMAS Sydney (2400m), Major Major had had nine starts for Heys, promising much but failing to produce the win his trainer knew he could.
Major Major
His hopes looked forlorn again when he loped out of the barrier a long last in the nine-horse field.
But apprentice Brodie Loy bided his time and Major Major ($8.50) tacked on to the other runners mid-race then strode to clear in the straight to put 7-1/2 lengths on Four Carat ($4.80).
“He was the first horse to walk into my yard so it is very fitting that he is the one to give me my first city win,” Heys said.
“This might have been his birthday and it was great to see Brodie ride him the way he did.
“I have trained him a little less conventionally this time and backed him up from 1600 metres last week to 2400 today.
“He’s never had a bad run for me. He just hadn’t won.
“I was more conventional with him before but he was getting more and more dour which is why I decided to back him up as something different.”
An ex-foreman for John O’Shea at Randwick, Heys set up on his own at the beginning of last year with some tried horses as well as yearlings from the 2014 Karaka sale.
Loy said Major Major caught him by surprise at the start.
“I nearly fell off,” he said.
“He was so casual, a bit like myself.
“It took him a while to get going and to come out and do what he did was a big effort.”
Loy backed up in the following race to claim his first metropolitan double when he steered the John Sargent-trained Swift Lady, the $2.70 favourite, to victory in the Gallipoli (1600m).
Swift Lady races in the same colours as the Sargent-trained Australian Oaks winner Gust Of Wind.
Sargent will discuss a Queensland Oaks start with Swift Lady’s owner Oliver Wong.
The filly came from behind to beat Sadler’s Lake ($3.60) by 2-1/2 lengths with race leader Swing Sensation ($12) third, another 3-3/4 lengths away.
All races at Saturday’s meeting were named in honour of Anzac Day with ceremonies to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing taking place at racecourses across Australia.
