Prentice gets early birthday present
New Zealand-bred filly Major Reality landed a betting plunge and boosted her Golden Slipper prospects by brilliantly winning last night's $35,000 Central Fruit Sales Gold Bracelet (2130m) at Gloucester Park.
The victory was an early birthday gift for trainer-reinsman Justin Prentice, who is 26 today, and celebrations will continue if Major Reality wins next Friday's $125,000 Slipper (2130m).
Big wagers were collected last night on Major Reality, who was backed from $5 to $2 favouritism in the last 10 minutes of betting.
Major Reality rated 1:59.9 in beating Sea Me Smile ($7.20) by 10.5m. Handover Penny ($28.80) finished a further 6m back in third place.
A winner at three of four starts, Major Reality took the early lead from Sea Me Smile and was not seriously challenged.
"Major Reality previously pulled hard in races," Prentice said. "In the past two weeks I've changed the filly's trackwork, giving her long and slow training which has had a settling effect."
Isaiah Artois also stylishly won a Golden Slipper lead-up last night and he will be hard to beat in the Group 1 race if he draws favourably.
Colin Brown took up the front-running with the David Thompson-trained Isaiah Artois in the Mercer Mooney Fruit And Vegetable Merchants 2YO Pace (2130m) and he rated 1:59.1.
The gelding, who started $2.70 favourite, beat The Odd Lover ($3) by 4.1m. Third placegetter Mynameskenny ($10.20) finished a close third.
Hot favourite Notabadexcuse ($1.40) set the pace and never looked in doubt before winning the Bullfrog International Pace (1730m) for trainer Gary Hall and concession driver Lauren Jones.
The gelding beat Talk About Mach ($21.30) by 4m and Wilkins Lucinda ($41.30) was a nose away in third place.
Talk About Mach's trainer Bill Horn, best known for his feats with former star Village Kid, has trained 499 winners. Talk About Mach could give Horn his mile-stone victory.
The Halls maintained a winning streak when Benjamin Banneker ($4.50) produced an impressive frontrunning display and a return to form in the Quality Produce Pace (2130m).
