Bendigo was Wednesday’s fixture and one of harness racing’s good guys, Carlsruhe part-owner/trainer Jack Sullivan, and his wife Glenis enjoyed a stable double.
Home-bred six-year-old Majestic Son-Sullanders Pride gelding Sonnyboy was successful in the 1650-metre VHRC / GBL Properties Trotters Mobile and eight-year-old Majestic Son-Nicky Newky gelding Major Max victorious in the 2150-metre Oxley Feed Mill Trotters Mobile.
Driven on this occasion by Jodi Quinlan, Sonnyboy began safely from the pole to trail the speedy Christmas Babe and used the sprint lane on turning to record a 3.1m victory in a mile rate of 2-01.1.
It was Sonnyboy’s ninth win in 89 outings.
Major Max snared the Oxley Feed Mill Trotters Mobile in a 2-02.8 mile rate. Again with Quinlan driving, Major Max (gate three) began cleanly to settle one/one on the back of Azalea Mae (gate four) before being restrained to four back the markers after Azalea Mae crossed the pole-line leader Kalarney Prince. Easing away from the markers in the last lap to race exposed, Major Max quickly put pay to the leader and sprinted clear on the final bend to greet the judge by 4.1m from Kalarney Prince, with Azalea Mae holding third albeit 14.4m away.
Jack has been involved in harness racing for a long period of time and it was his first ever double, which will long be remembered by the pair. Jack’s wife Glenis is a part-owner of both horses.
It’s an old adage that whenever you’re hot, you‘re hot, and Jack celebrated another winner at Maryborough on Friday when Majestic Son-Nicky Newky filly Chantilly Lass – a full sister to Major Max – scored in the first heat of the Maryborough Golf Club Graduation Series for three-year-olds over 2190m.
At juicy odds of 25/1 with Quinlan driving, Chantilly Lass (three pegs) was checked at the judge on the first occasion and dropped back a spot to be four pegs. Coming off the markers to race exposed approaching the bell, she gave plenty on turning to defeat favourite Pastor Dunbar (gate two second line) by two metres, with Heir Jaudon third 19.2m away in a mile rate of 2-03.6.
