MAJOR SAM WINS THIRD GRADUATION FINAL
Former Overport Lodge pacer Major Sam notched took his fourth win in his last five Queensland starts when he won the $A20,000 Rising Stars C1-2 Final at Albion Park, Brisbane, on Saturday, January 18, 2014.
Major Sam (3c Major In Art-Precocious Arden) earlier won a similar $20,000 Rising Stars C0 Final at Albion Park on December 28 and a $20,000 Dash For Cash C1 Final at Albion Park on January 11, for trainer-driver Darrel Graham.
Major Sam, shown in the colours of breeders Frances and Max Bowden. The Major In Art colt continues to race well in Queensland.
Each final has been worth $A12,000 to the winner, taking Major Sam’s Australian earnings to $47,120 and his lifetime tally to $61,646.
He paced a career best 1:54.7 for the 1660m when taking out the Dash For Cash C1 Final on January 11.
Major Sam, bred and formerly raced in Canterbury by Frances and Max Bowden, has extended his short career record to 16 starts for seven wins and five placings.
He won three of six starts for the Mark Jones stable, including a debut Addington win as a 2YO in June, and a heat of the Flashing Red C1 Graduation Seriest at Rangiora on November 7 in a 1:58 rate (2000m) over eventual series winner Pacquiao.
Meanwhie, fellow ex-Mark Jones stable pacer Offtocullect furthered his good West Australian form at Pinjarra on Monday.
The 3YO Gotta Go Cullect-Shazza’s Dream colt overcame a back row draw to score as a $1.50 favourite in a C2 pace over 2185m, raing 1:58.8, for the Greg Bond stable.
Offtocullect has only been beaten once in four West Australian starts, taking his career record to seven wins from nine starts for $37,420 in stakes.