$1000 bargain gets an upset all-the-way win

Narrogin harness racing trainer Jeremy Thornton has no regrets that he outlaid $1000 16 months ago to purchase Majic Bay, who has proved a wonderful bargain.

Majic Bay was a $12.80 chance when Corey Peterson drove him to an all-the-way win in the $21,000 Phil Putland Memorial Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

This was five-year-old Majic Bay’s 44TH start for Thornton for eighth wins, seven seconds and four thirds for stakes of $61,500.

“Hayden Reeves asked me in May last year if I wanted Majic Bay, and I said yes,” said 52-year-old Thornton, who works in the family carpet business in Narrogin as well as preparing a few pacers. “We won with our first start with him when he was an 115/1 outsider and beat Insta Gator in a race at Narrogin.”

MAJIC BAY REPLAY

Majic Bay’s win on Friday night gave Thornton his first metropolitan-class winner since nine-year-old Just Barney ran on from the rear to beat Rocknroll Whitby on August 20, 2021. His previous city winner was Dollars Go on January 1, 2010.

The family’s greatest harness racing success was when Thornton’s father Neville owned and trained Eclipse Hanover for her victory in the $75,000 State Sires Series final for three-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park on March 25, 1994.

Majic Bay, who has now raced 77 times for ten wins, 16 placings and $79,371, is by New Zealand sire Franco Jamar, and is the second foal out of Art Major mare Scarlett Bay, who was retired after her only start when second to Eric James at Pinjarra in August 2015.

For complete race results, click here.

by Ken Casellas, for Gloucester Park