Lewis enjoying Major Delight with record-breaking filly

Peter Lewis admits to getting a little carried away during Major Delight’s Group 1 success at Menangle on Saturday night.

But who could blame him? The exciting youngster lowered her own Australasian two-year-old fillies’ record and kept her unbeaten sequence in tact with a slashing performance in the NSW Breeders Challenge Final.

The 1:50.3 run made her the third fastest two-year-old filly in the world this year and set a new Australasian mark over 1609 metres for her age and sex.

She’s now six wins from six starts, with two Group 1s and over $200,000 in the bank.

“I reckon the horse heard me yelling down the straight because I was going off…,” Lewis, who bred and owns the daughter of Bettors Delight, said.

“She seems to spook at a few little things, like when she baulks at things and pricks her ears. And when I was yelling, I think I saw her prick her ears and run a little bit… I thought I better pull back a bit. I don’t want to cause any trouble!”

Major Delight is the product of Lewis’ breed, which has really stepped up following the emergence of Lady Euthenia in 2006.

On the racetrack, she won 21 races and five Group 1s before embarking on a successful career in the breeding barn.

“I gave training away after she finished racing, but if I had have passed her on to a professional trainer early on, she may have even done better,” Lewis said.

“Anything I keep now, I’ll give them the best chance and send them to the professional trainers.”

Lady Euthenia is the mother of last year’s Victoria Cup champ Max Delight and has now thrown Major Delight, who Lewis admits is shaping as his best horse yet.

“I think so - it’s looking like that,” the 55-year-old said.

“Lady Euthenia, she won the inaugural Breeders Challenge at Menangle. At the time she broke the Australasian record, as Major Delight did. Obviously different times – she went much slower back then – but potentially I think this one is going to be better because she just seems to handle things so much easier.

“She’s got a really good constitution. I went and had a look at her after the race the other day and she wouldn’t blow a candle out. It seems as though she’s got pretty good lungs on her!”

Major Delight will start a warm favourite when she tackles an Alabar Breeders Crown Series 2YO Fillies heat at Maryborough on Sunday. Regular driver Mark Pitt will partner the Emma Stewart-trained star, who will leave from barrier six.

She will be looking to progress through to the semi-finals at Melton on November 12, with rich Group 1 finals scheduled at the same track on November 19.

Also on Sunday at Maryborough, Breeders Crown heats for the two-year-old colts and geldings will take place.

Picture (Club Menangle): Peter Lewis (right) with daughter Sophie and wife Anastasia on Saturday night.