Damian Wilson’s keeping a lid on it, but even for the experienced reinsman it’s hard to quell the excitement of the Major opportunity that knocks tonight.
At 8.05pm he will drive Major Moth from gate one in the VHRC Caduceus two-year-old colts and geldings’ Breeders Crown final, an opportunity to register a win three times richer than any other recorded in his almost 9000 starts.
“I will just drive the best race I can and hope to win,” Wilson said.
“It’s just another race meeting. Of course, I’m looking forward to it, but I’m trying not to get too wound up about what happens. It’s a $300,000 race, this is what you aim for and the one you want to win.”
Major Moth is one of three Clayton Tonkin runners in tonight’s two-year-old colts and geldings division, including emergency Idyllic, while his partner Emma Stewart has an extraordinary 14 starters across the four pacing finals.
Behind their industry leading operation are the hopes of a diverse bunch of drivers, owners and breeders, including Wilson and Len and Irene Parker, the owner/breeders of Major Moth.
“Lenny said all along I’ve got a real good one,” Wilson said. “I went to the trials with him about three months ago and drove him and said to Lenny he’s definitely got a bit of dash and we’re at least a chance. From there he has just improved with every run.”
Wilson’s partnership with Parker was cemented in 2010, when he drove Lively Moth to Tatlow Stakes and Vicbred Super Series victories, the latter one of three Group 1 wins to the reinsman’s credit.
“He just stuck with me,” Wilson said. “He gets a bit nervous before races and worries a bit, but I tell him what will be will be.”
Parker’s loyalty included returning to Wilson after a two-year lay-off owing to a horrendous crash in 2012, when he so severely broke his leg there were fears he would lose it. For Wilson that’s well in the past as he focuses instead on adding to his 890 careers wins.
Three of those have already come with Major Moth, who won on debut and has been flawless this Breeders Crown series, dominating his heat and then overcoming adversity to crush his rivals in last Saturday’s semi-final.
“He’s got high speed, but his run in the heats was as good as you can get – to lead out like that and get home in 26.8,” Wilson said.
It tells him that his colt, who’s had only five career starts, has strength to go with his zip, and it gives him more to play with tonight when they step out from gate one, directly inside lead rival Act Now.
“We will have to see what happens after about 50 metres,” Wilson said. “Wherever we are, I’ve got options.
“I can lead and try and hold on, I can make them do a bit of work or just hand up and try and out sprint them.
“From watching the races and all the horses around him, he seems to have the highest point-to-point speed. I’d be happy to sit off them, but after what he did in the heats he can do a bit of work and make them chase.”
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