Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Promising Victorian-bred three-year-old Artful Major gave a splendid frontrunning performance to win the $21,000 The Nullarbor A Week Away Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Driven by Gary Hall Jnr for trainer Justin Prentice, Artful Major, the $1.60 favourite, was not extended after starting from the coveted No. 1 barrier.
After a dawdling lead time of 40.6sec. and slow opening quarters of 31.6sec. and 29.6sec. Artful Major held the breeze horse Bet The House ($3) at bay and defeated him by a length at a 1.58.6 rate over the 2130m after dashing over the final 400m sections in 27.2sec. and 28sec.
“After an easy lead time and first quarter he ran a pretty good final 1200 metres,” said Prentice.
“I’ve always had time for him. He has always shown good ability, but he’s a bit of a funny horse. He’s got a good record but there’s a couple of races where he hasn’t gone quite as good as expected. He switches on and off in his races and we’re hoping he is still learning. I think he has a good motor there.”
Artful Major, who was purchased for $67,500 by Prentice at the 2022 Nutrien yearling sale in Melbourne, is raced by a syndicate of Pentice’s stable clients and has earned $43,540 from five wins and three placings from nine starts.
He is by Art Major and is the fifth foal out of the Live Or Die mare Tara Royale. Artful Major’s half-sister Delightful Tara, who as a five-year-old won two Group 3 events at Melton in February and March 2020.