By Duane Ranger
Waiua Pa horseman Brent Mangos seldom labels any of his team, but the 51-year-old all but said Major Star was a good thing going into Saturday’s $9,000 Oakes Stratford Trotting Cup on the Te Kapua Park grass track.
“I don’t want to sound over-confident but he’s really turned the corner this time in. I’ve been real pleased his work in the past few weeks, especially his trial at the Franklin Workouts on Saturday,” Mangos said.
Major Star beat last start Auckland Cup runner-up Hughie Green by a head in that two-horse 2500m standing start pace at Pukekohe. They bowled along and then really whipped home.
The son of Art Major and Ciccio Star stopped the clock in 3:22.3 with a sedate 2:10.2 mile rate. Mangos got him to sprint home in in 55.2 and 27.4.
“He just feels better this time in. Nothing should bother him on Saturday. I think he will step and go close,” the Franklin horseman said.
He has won a Country Cup before but Major Star now looks set break his seven-race ‘grass track hoo-doo’ when he lines up in the Cup.
Major Star has never raced on the track but boasts four placings from seven starts on grass tracks. His standing start record reads 13 starts for one win and five placings.
It’s been almost two years since Major Star won a Country Cup. That was when he was a $2.20 favourite in the 2014 Wairarapa Cup at Manawatu Raceway on April 3 of that year.
“Like I said I honestly think he has turned the corner and this is his for the taking,” said Mangos.
This is Major Star’s fourth start this campaign. He resumed from a spell with a sixth in the Te Awamutu Cup on December 29 and then the bay gelding finished second behind Celtic Star in the Parawai Cup on the Thames grass.
Last start (January 24) the 4-year-old was a length-second behind Hartofdixie when favourite from 20m behind in the Rotorua Cup.
He has won eight of his 40 starts and placed in 14 starts and banked just over $117,000 in stakes.
After attending all three days of the Yearling Sales in Auckland and Christchurch this week and then the Alexandra Park trots on Friday night, Mangos said he wouldn’t be travelling to Taranaki to dive Major Star.
“Simon (Lawson) will drive him. He’s won behind the horse before so we will lose nothing there,” he said.
Toughest for Major Star to beat will be the Nicky Chilcott trained and driven Jet Black Shadow, who will start from the unruly 10m mark.
The 5-year-old Jereme’s Jet gelding is in grand form having won at Alexandra Park and then the Wellington and Otaki Cups, before placing in the Tauranga Cup and then at Alexandra Park in a stronger field on February 12.
Recent winners of the Stratford Cup have been:
2015: The Arna Donnelly trained and driven Ideal Success (20m) in 3:28.2.
2014: The Tim Hall trained Randalstown (Philip Butcher) in 3:38.3.
2013: The Dave Marshall trained Tyler Maguire (Kyle Marshall) in 3:33.0.
2012: The Ian Small trained Murphy Maguire (David Butcher) in 3:34.4.
2011: The Dave & Clare McGowan trained Another Impact (Logan Hollis) in 3:33.6.
2010: The Todd Mitchell trained Family Spirit (Philip Butcher) in 3:30.8.
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