Photo: HRNZ
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk
Majestic Man will be out to end his New Zealand summer on a high at Cambridge Raceway on Friday before testing the waters on the other side of the Tasman.
The Phil Williamson-trained gelding has been in scintillating form this season, finishing unplaced in just two of his 11 starts, and winning on two occasions, including the Gr.3 Ashburton Flying Mile (1609m) and Gr.2 Trotters Flying Mile (1609m) at Cambridge on Christmas Eve.
The son of Majestic Son subsequently placed in the Gr.1 National Trot (2700m) at Alexandra Park on New Year’s Eve behind Sundees Son and Bolt For Brilliance, both of whom will bypass the Gr.3 Les Harrison Transport Cambridge Flying Stakes Mobile Trot (1700m) on Friday.
Williamson was pleased with his gelding’s run and he is looking forward to facing a weaker field at Cambridge Raceway on Friday.
“I was really happy with him,” he said. “They ran a national record and he trotted a quick last half, so he went well he just couldn’t catch the other two, they are both great horses. It’s no shame running third to them.
“He looks tough to beat there for sure on Friday.”
Majestic Man has been installed as a $1.15 favourite for the Flying Stakes by TAB bookmakers, ahead of Group One winner Temporale at $7.50, and barring incident Williamson is confident of meeting his charge in the winner’s circle following the race.
“He is the horse to beat,” Williamson said. “I have got plenty of respect for Temporale, but with the inside draw on him we should be in a dominant position. If he is good enough, he will be winning.”
Friday night’s test will be Majestic Man’s final New Zealand hit-out before he travels across the Tasman with driver Brad Williamson to try and plunder some Australian trotting spoils.
“We will take him over to Australia. The Dullard Cup will be his first race on January 30,” Williamson said.
“The reason he is going is because there are about five Group Ones that he can run in over there over the month of February.
“He is penciled to leave on the 20th (January) and he will stay over there until early March. Whether he goes up to Sydney will just depend on what COVID restrictions there are going to be at the state border.
“Brad is going to go over and it will be a good opportunity for him to try and steer a Group One.
“With the racing he will have, with a bit of luck he will be tough to beat in some of them.”
