THE raps on four-year-old harness racing entire Major Mac have been big for some time but in Launceston last Sunday night the four-year-old definitely lived up to the reputation.
Major Mac lined up in the Kings Meadows Lions Club Pace over 2200 metres with Rohan Hillier in the sulky but he missed the start and tailed out 30 metres from the second-last horse.
But it ended up being little more than a hiccup for the son of Elsu as he caught the field, set off three-wide in pursuit of the leaders at the bell and ended up forging clear in the home straight to score by 12-1/2 metres from Prisonbreak with Courageous Ben a close-up third.
It was one of the most impressive wins seen on the Launceston circuit this season but one that didn’t surprise his trainer Rod Plunkett.
“There’s a bit of depth to this horse and I think he showed that tonight,” Plunkett said.
Major Mac was having his fourth start this season with this his second win but clearly his best effort.
He returned a mile rate of 2m.01.8s for an overall time of 2m.46.5s, although his sectionals compared to the leader would have been quite remarkable.
Major Mac began his racing career in Queensland with Luke McCarthy, winning his first two starts convincingly at Albion Park.
Her then moved to the John Justice in Victoria where he won two on country tracks (Bendigo and Shepparton) from a dozen outings before making his way top Tasmania.
Major Mac, owned and raced by Mick Maxfield, has started 35 times for eight wins and 13 minor placings for almost $40,000 in stakes.