Ryley Major cashed in on his undoubted talent and crashed through his metropolitan maiden status at Tabcorp Park Melton on Monday night, rewarding his patient Tasmanian connections.
A winner of 12 of his 17 starts and now $100,307 in stakes, the six-year-old Art Major gelding had his second start at Melton and on the mainland Saturday when he was comfortable throughout, finding the front from gate five and careering away to a 5.6m win in a 27-second final quarter.
Victory in the $20,000 DNR Logistics Vicbred Pace was great reward for trainer-driver Rohan Hillier, who's nursed Ryley Major back from a tendon injury.
"As a three-year-old he was unbeaten, I think, in 10 starts," Hillier told Trots Vision. "Then he went amiss, it's been a long road back. He's been off the scene for three years. Fingers crossed he can stay sound."
Having not raced since the Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series bronze pace at Melton on July 7 2016, Ryley Major won a pair of trials in February and March this year before making his long-awaited return at Launceston on March 17, when he won by 4.6m.
That prompted Hillier to jump Bass Strait and make hay while the sun shined.
"He's got a tendon, it's not perfect, but at the moment he's going quite well," he said. "He was really good last week first-up from the long break, so we thought while he's sound and racing well we'll come and try and steal some Victorian money."
HEAR FROM SATURDAY NIGHT'S WINNING DRIVERS WITH THIS WEEK'S ALL CLEAR: