Ruakaka raider Major Tom showed he was primed for his shot at the New Zealand Cup with an emphatic Banks Peninsula Cup win yesterday.
Carrying a huge 62.5kg could not stop the Ken Rae and Krystal Williams-Tuhoro-trained galloper from taking out the 2200m feature at Motukarara.
Rae had said yesterday’s $25,000 race would be Major Tom’s last outing before the New Zealand Cup.
The horse would not compete in Saturday’s traditional New Zealand lead-up event, the Metropolitan Handicap.
Major Tom was given a soft run back in the field in yesterday’s race by rider Samantha Collett.
She worked her charge into clear air at the top of the straight and he sprinted brilliantly under his massive weight.
Runner-up Taxihome chased Major Tom home but could not reel him in despite carrying 8kg less than him.
Bookmakers reacted to the victory by moving Major Tom in from $12 to $10 in the New Zealand Cup market.
Betting is headed by the Stephen Marsh-trained Felaar.
The Rae and Williams-Tuhoro stable also won with Inanna at yesterday’s meeting, with Collett in the saddle. Rider Terry Moseley continued his brilliant form yesterday, scoring his second consecutive winning treble at a South Island race meeting.
The veteran jockey started yesterday’s meeting with a maiden victory on the Brad McDonald-trained Bal Harbour.
He then scored a maiden win on the Neill Ridley-trained Highly Xcited. The trainer and jockey are set to be a force at the New Zealand Cup carnival with highly progressive galloper Prince Oz.
Mosley reached his treble yesterday with Elana Rose in the final event, for trainer Ross Beckett.
