Spicey Major serves it up

Harness racing’s latest up and comer Spicy Major (Art Major) showed he is ready to progress through the classes with a stylish all the way win in last night’s $50,000 Final of the West Australian Nights of Thunder final at Gloucester Park.

Starting odds on favourite on the strength of his Heat win the week before and the fact that he drew the pole it was obvious that he would be the one to beat. That’s precisely how the event staged out with Gary Hall Junior holding the lead early on.

Stablemate Ventura was caught wide early and driver Stuart Macdonald had no option but to race outside the leader with Heavenly Wage taking the trail behind the leader.

The field didn’t change coming into the final lap and Spicey Major appeared to be cruising. However Ventura refused to give in and almost joined the leader on straightening. Spicey Major responded to the challenge and held a brave Ventura by just over a metre with Heavenly Wage a further four metres away third.

SPICEY MAJOR REPLAY

Gary Hall commented after the event.

“He’s one of those horses you know that the series seemed to really suit him especially with the preferential draw and he just looks like a short course specialist. So we played his strengths and lucky that we got the job done. We probably missed out on a 30K feature when we did things wrong from the start but really happy that we can make up for it tonight.”

Commenting on his fightback in the home straight Hall stated

“He had to as the other horse of mine (Ventura) he’s a pretty nice horse. I would say if I had the choice of the two you’d probably take Ventura but just the conditions of this race helped this horse and I was pretty pleased with both of their runs.”

In looking at the future, Hall said

“Provided I can find the right races for him over this sort of trip. He’s got the potential to beat the really good ones over the distance but whether he gets there who knows. He’s still got his quirks but I think he’ll always have them so we have to work around them.”

Spicey Major is raced by prolific owner Mick Boots and he looks to have another useful money spinner in the five year old gelding. Formerly prepared by Victorian Jodie Quinlan, Spicy Major has now won six races for the Hall stable.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink