Epic performance lands Major Meister a major prize

Major Meister (Art Major) produced a stunning harness racing performance to win trainer Jason Grimson and driver Cam Hart another big Victorian feature as Saturday night’s (Jan. 7) Garrards Horse and Hound Bendigo Pacing Cup was marred by a serious incident involving reinsman Michael Stanley.

The thoughts of those in the harness racing industry are with Stanley, who was taken away from the track in patient transport after apparently being struck by the eventual winner as he eased favourite Rock N Roll Doo out of the race in the final lap.

The interference to Major Meister, who settled last from his wide back row draw, made the victory even more amazing given he had to overcome a blocked passage approaching the turn.

Somehow, he managed to round up his rivals and win the Group 2 event from stablemate Sicario, who had the gun run in behind early leader A Gs White Socks. Max Delight finished quickly for third.

The result continued Major Meister’s great run since joining Grimson late last year, with the Bendigo win following a first-up triumph at Ballarat on November 26 and Group 1 Cranbourne Pacing Cup glory on December 17.

Part-owner Jon Canestra said he long felt Major Meister had the ability to reach his current heights.

“In the early days we did. We knew we had something,” he said.

“We then had to geld him to try and see if we could get that more out of him, and he just lost his way.”

Canestra also heaped praise on Grimson, who continues to amaze with his record of improving tried horses.

“His passion for horses and his love for horses is unbelievable. How he went to his feet, how he fed him, how he trained him completely different.

“I remember when he won at Yarra Glen, he had this action that was just like cutting daisies. We saw it again at Cranbourne two weeks ago and we saw it again tonight.

“He’s living up to the potential we thought he had.”

Canestra said it was a phenomenal performance for Major Meister to win after the interference from Rock N Roll Doo.

“You can’t put it into words. We said he was gone,” the 58-year-old said.

“For him not to jump out of his action, for (driver) Cam (Hart) to keep him level, get him back into the race and then win it… With all credit, they may have gone a bit hard in front and they were tiring a bit, but he’s blown us away.”

Hart won the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Grand Final with Grimson-trained I Cast No Shadow in December and was at the controls when Major Meister captured the Cranbourne Pacing Cup.

The star reinsman also felt his chances were over when Rock N Roll Doo ran into Major Meister’s path approaching the turn.

“I’m not sure what happened to Mick’s horse, whether he choked down or something, but I could see from a long way out that he was trying to bring it up the track,” Hart said.

“The trouble was, my horse, I was trying to get it down inside him. He got on a rein real bad and I just couldn’t move him away from him. I ended up going straight up the back of him, so hopefully Mick’s alright…

“It was an amazing win. I thought my race was over once that happened.

“Luckily, he still kept pacing… he got hanging pretty bad on the last corner as well, but he was still strong enough to fight on up the straight. I was super happy with him.”

Major Meister started his career in New Zealand and was previously prepared in Victoria by Adam Kelly before shifting to the New South Wales-based Grimson stable in recent months.

The son of Art Major has now won 14 races from 58 career starts for nearly $250,000 in prizemoney.

WATCH THE CLOSING STAGES OF THE BENDIGO PACING CUP BELOW:

For complete race results, click here.

From Harness Racing Victoria