FIRST-STARTER Ryley Major ran up to his good breeding with an impressive performance in the $10,000 Yearling Sale Classic at Mowbray on Sunday night.
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His win in a quick 1:59.3 mile-rate (last 800m in 59.5) was about what trainer-driver Rohan Hillier expected.
‘‘It certainly doesn’t surprise me – he’s so well-bred I’d be very disappointed if he was no good,’’ Hillier said.
Ryley Major is the first foal of Hillier’s former outstanding filly Shez Ryleymak, a winner of 23 races and $270,000.
Shez Ryleymak’s many feature-race wins included the 2008 Sweepstakes final in Hobart, and that is Ryley Major’s immediate target.
‘‘We’ll also have a go at the Dandy Patch later in the season,’’ Hillier said.
The Sweepstakes has a $20,000 final on May 17, and the $30,000 Dandy Patch final is on July 5.
Hillier dominated last night’s race, also supplying the gallant runner-up, Soho Shanghai, who was beaten by less than three metres.
They finished 20m in front of third placegetter Spot Eight.
‘‘Soho Shanghai is also a nice horse,’’ Hillier said.
‘‘He’s a good stayer but he doesn’t have Ryley Major’s speed.’’
Spot Eight’s trainer, Melissa Maine, had her turn later in the night when promising three-year-old Parwill maintained an unbeaten record for his new stable.
El Jays Magic scored an easy win in the fast-class race for trainer Grant Hodges and driver Erin Hollaway.
Easter Cup runner-up The Majority started odds-on favourite but dropped right out after leading.
Going solo
BAGDAD owner Elliot Booth had some good fortune when his two-year-old filly Iden Blue Byrd picked up $10,700 in prizemoney and bonuses for a solo run.
But he was quick to point out that his recent harness racing luck hasn’t all been good.
‘‘We lost this filly’s half-brother Blue Chip Harry a couple of weeks ago,’’ Booth explained.
‘‘He got spooked by a helicopter while in his paddock and crashed into a fence, badly smashing his leg.’’
Blue Chip Harry won seven races.
The Paul Williams-trained Iden Blue Byrd was the only starter in the fillies’ division of the Yearling Sales Classic but still had to complete the 1609-metre course to collect the prizemoney.
She did that without any dramas, returning a mile-rate of 2:11.2.
By today’s standards, the time was slow, but Booth recalled winning two-year-old races with horses that have gone slower.
Iden Blue Byrd’s grand-dam, Iden Byrd, won her first start at New Norfolk in 1993 going 2:13.7.
Iden Byrd went on to produce six winners at stud, including Iden Blue Byrd’s dam, Iden Miss Ellie, who won 10 races.
Right gear
TRAINER Chester Bullock ignored the wishes of his co-owners by changing the gear on Cardinal Art and was rewarded with a runaway win in the Class 1 Pace.
Bullock said his partners in the six-year-old weren’t keen when he recommended the use of pull-down blinds but they had the desired effect.
After settling last, driver Ricky Duggan took Cardinal Art three-wide at the bell, loomed alongside the leaders at the 400 metres and then zoomed clear in the straight to score easily.
‘‘Ricky said the new gear did the trick -- when he pulled the blinds down, the horse just took off,’’ Bullock said.
‘‘It was like he found another gear.
‘‘Why that happens with some horses I’d don’t know -- maybe it just gives them an adrenalin rush.
‘‘But I always hold off using them until they get a bit older.’’
Cardinal Art has now won five races but his record could easily be better.
He’s run another 18 minor placings.
‘‘He’s always been consistent but has been a bit unlucky at times,’’ Bullock said.