Otago trotter Majestic Man produced a sensational run in defeat in heat two of the Interdominion trotting series at Alexandra Park last night.
The 5yr-old produced a flying finish to run third behind Winterfell after receiving a luckless run.
The Phil Williamson-trained trotter was forced to race three back on the markers after Marcoola, the horse he followed out at the start, took an early trail.
Driver Brad Williamson said he expected Marcoola, the hot favourite, to lead throughout and it surprised him that he didn’t.
‘‘Marcoola getting crossed at the start wasn’t something we expected, which probably cost us the race, really,’’ Williamson told Harness Racing New Zealand.
An attack on the lead by the winner relegated Majestic Man to a horror position four back on the markers in the back straight the final time.
The Oamaru trotter’s fortunes got even worse when leader Tough Monarch started fading in front of him.
Eventually, Williamson was able to find clear air in the straight and Majestic Man let down with a stunning finish to get within a nose of the runner up, Marcoola.
“He was flying home,” Williamson said.
Marcoola’s driver, Sheree Tomlinson, also had to do some manoeuvring to secure a run for her charge before he flashed home to get within a head of the winner.
Winterfell’s win came courtesy of an aggressive drive from co-trainer Mark Purdon.
Purdon admitted after the race the horse forced his hand in the back straight.
“He was just starting to get keener and keener and I thought there was no point having him beat himself by pulling hard.
“So I thought I would let him run and just see if he had the ability to cross the horse on the inside, which he did, thank goodness.”
Temporale was fourth.
Master trainer Barry Purdon sparked life back in to the career of A G’s White Socks, who produced a big finish to win heat two of the pacing series.
The horse had only arrived at Purdon’s stable in the days before the race and reinsman Maurice McKendry had never driven the horse before.
The combination of the veteran horseman and the former South Island pacer proved a winning one when A G’s White Socks won in 2.36.2 for 2200m.
All Stars stablemates Cruz Bromac and Thefixer filled the placings in second and third respectively.
Bling It On produced a shock defeat after leading.
