Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
There were only five runners in the 2130m $20,000 Salami Too Hot To Trot Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, and the brilliant four-year-old Major Martini simply ambled along in front for the first 1700m before sprinting over the final 400m in a sizzling 26.3sec.
The Justin Prentice-trained Major Martini, the hot $1.10 favourite, gave Gary Hall jnr an armchair drive as he strolled to the front from the No. 3 barrier and dawdled through the lead time in 39.8sec. and the first quarters of the final mile in 32.3sec., 31.3sec. and 30.1sec.
He won by just under a length from $34 chance Gambit, who settled in last position before Callan Suvaljko eased him off the pegs 950m from home. The five-year-old, who was having his second start after a spell, fought on gamely. Major Martini, making his second appearance after a 19-month absence, has amassed $297,443 in stakes from eight wins and seven placings from 16 starts.