A well-orchestrated plan came to fruition for the emerging Group 1 combination of driver Cameron Hart and trainer Jason Grimson after Majestic Cruiser outstayed his rivals in the Blacks A Fake Queensland Championship at Albion Park on Saturday night.
While the $3 favorite Spirit Of St Louis worked to the lead shortly after the start, Hart put Majestic Cruiser ‘to sleep’ midfield in the running line before pulling out to stake his claim with 500m to travel.
The pair cleared out in the home straight, with Majestic Cruiser ($17) producing a superior finale to score by two metres in a mile rate of 1:54.7min for the 2680m trip.
After the race, Hart said he was confident the seven-year-old son of Art Major would be at his peak in his fourth outing in as many weeks at The Creek.
“I’ve had to drive him a bit upside down to get him fit and Jason and I were building up to this night and we knew that he was building with every run and had him right, we just needed luck and we got it tonight,” Hart said.
“I could see my mate Jacko (Callaghan) trying to sneak away on the leader, but I knew Like A Wildfire had a little bit left to take me into the race. It worked out perfect and he was really strong up the lane.”
Like Grimson, Hart has relocated to Sydney in recent years to further his career in the sulky.
“I was just happy to move to Sydney and get a few metro winners, but to have six or seven Group 1 winners and a Grand Circuit win tonight is really pleasing,” he said.
“Jason has been great for my career, we are both Riverina boys and this horse has done wonders for both of us.”
Earlier in the night, the Group 1 Queensland Oaks resulted in a Victorian quinella after the Emma Stewart-trained Soho Historia ($7.50) produced a withering home straight burst to reel in the $1.55 favorite Amore Vita.
It was Soho Historia’s sixth consecutive win since joining the Stewart stable four months ago.
Victorian trainer Matt Craven continued his successful winter sojourn in the Queensland sun when he landed a winning double with Better Isolate, who outclassed his rivals in the Group 3 J C McMullen, and Crime Writer, who dead-heated with I Cast No Shadow in the Gold Coast Turf Club Pace.