The big 3yr-old son of Art Major has encountered no luck with the random barrier draw system in his four starts to date, but he once again shrugged off the extra challenge when overcoming a 1-2 win field from barrier 12 over 2200m, courtesy of a confident Nathan Williamson drive.
Northview Major continues the fine record of his mother Beaudiene Bonnie (by Nero's B B), who has left nine individual winners.
Dave Kennedy, of Bayswater near Drummond, was breeding from Beaudiene Bonnie until Invercargill lawyer Cleland Murdoch bought her from Kennedy.
''I bought her when she was about 17 and she's 23 now,'' Murdoch said.
''He's the second foal I've bred from her. She's got three others on the ground and she's in foal to Panspacificflight.''
The first foal for Murdoch, Northview Cardle, has won six of his 21 starts in Australia for trainer Paul Fitzpatrick.
Northview Major was going to take some time to make it to the races, Murdoch explained.
''This horse was good as a 2yr-old, but he was a weak, overgrown bugger - we've just had to wait for him.
''That's it for this season, and we'll be aiming for a junior drivers' race in August somewhere.''
Murdoch, who races Northview Major with Jim and Barry Taylor, of Te Anau, also has a share in Chers Bettor Babe, who ran a good fourth in Northview Major's race. While Williamson was doing the business for Murdoch and trainer Murray Brown in the sulky, he is also enjoying a breakout season as a trainer, reaching 31 wins for the season thanks to wins by Rocky Road and Galaxy Hunter.
Rocky Road lived up to his trial form by winning on debut in a 2200m maiden for owner Neville Cleaver, while Galaxy Hunter notched up his fourth win for the season for owner Art Shirley.
Cleaver bought Rocky Road at the 2011 yearling sales for $6500 while Shirley went shopping for Galaxy Hunter at the 2010 ready to run sales, spending $15,500 for the son of Thanksgiving.
Between the two of them, they have provided Williamson with 10 wins for the season, with Onedin Mach (two wins for Cleaver) and Major Deed (three wins for Shirley) helping Williamson towards the Southland trainers' premiership title.
Dexter Dunn picked up three wins, including a comfortable victory for Texican in the feature pace.
Texican's trainer, Cran Dalgety, on a rare excursion to Forbury Park, said a free-for-all at Addington next week was Texican's next target. Dalgety's Breeders' Crown hopeful Bit Of A Legend is a good chance of lining up in the free-for-all as well, ahead of his Breeders Crown heat on July 19. Nottingham JJ was put down after fracturing his near hind pastern with 400m to go in the 3yr-old and older 2200m maiden. The 6yr-old Washington VC gelding had 13 starts in his career for Nottingham Park trainer George Orr. His best result was a second placing at Ascot Park in February.
