Former Victorian pacer Perfect Major revealed wonderful strength and fighting qualities to score a thrilling victory in a three-way photo finish to the 1730m $25,000 Members Sprint at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Chris Voak’s plans to send Perfect Major forward at the start from the No. 5 barrier and apply pressure to the logical pacemaker and $1.50 favourite Jack Farthing worked out perfectly.
Perfect Major unsuccessfully challenged Jack Farthing for the early lead and then sustained the pressure from the breeze. Jack Farthing reeled off the first three quarters in 28.7sec., 28.5sec. and 28.1sec. before he finally cracked as Voak sent Perfect Major to the front 100m from the post.
Perfect Major, the second fancy at $4, then had to fight on grimly to stave off powerful finishing bursts from Balcatherine ($6.50) and Stroke Of Luck ($18). He won by a nose from Balcatherine, with Stroke Of Luck a nose away in third place. Jack Farthing finished sixth.
“It’s hard to keep the pressure on the leader and still keep something for the last bit,” said Voak. “Perfect Major rated 1.53.5 and went very well. It was an exceptional time because the track wasn’t very quick. He is probably capable of going 1.52.5 on the pegs, and on a good night he could go 1.51.5.
“Perfect Major will have another eight or ten starts and then go for a break before being prepared for the summer carnival. He will be much better next summer because he then would have had a couple of campaigns under his belt.”
It was a most pleasing result for trainer Ross Olivieri, with Perfec t Major winning and Stroke Of Luck coming from sixth at the bell to finish third. Perfect Major now has won at seven of his 12 WA starts and has a career record of 39 starts for 16 wins, 11 placings and stakes of $199,609.
by Ken Casellas