Cheryl Rasmussen wins her second feature this week

By Duane Ranger

Delaneys Creek owner and breeder Cheryl Rasmussen is riding the crest of a wave at the moment.

Seven days after Speech Is Silver proved himself as one of Queensland’s slickest open class pacers, Major Cam scored in the feature event at Albion Park on Saturday night – the $13,880 TAB Open Pace.

Rasmussen co-owns Speech Is Silver, but bred and owns Major Cam, who has remarkably won half if his 50 starts and placed in another 10 races for $216,538 in purses since making his winning debut at Redcliffe Paceway on December 24, 2014.

It was the eight-year-old Art Major gelding’s fourth win in 2019-2020, paying $2.30 for the win.

“It’s been a great couple of weeks, but I’ve been racing long enough to know that you have to take the wins while you can,” Rasmussen said.

“Shane (Graham) drove the horse very well and credit must also go to Darren (Weeks), he had the horse spot on,” Rasmussen said.

The Weeks-trained Major Cam got the saloon passing lane run, pacing the 2,138m mobile in 2:35.1 (mile rate 1:56.8), with sectionals of 31.3, 30.7, 28.7 and 26.3.

Reigning Queensland Horse-of-the-Year, Colt Thirty One, sat parked throughout, and was a 1.5 metre second.

“I am very lucky; for a pacer to win half of his career starts says a lot about the horse,” Rasmussen said.

“He’s only had 50 races so he’s still got a bit of racing left in him yet.

“I think this fella is more of a stayer, whereas Speech Is Silver is a sprint horse.

“It all comes down to a bit of luck though doesn’t it, if you draw seven your chances are virtually over, especially over the 1,660 metres.

“We got the run last night in behind the leader, that was the winning of the race.”

Rasmussen also made note of her love for being able to watch her horse on the TV.

“I never miss watching them, I seldom get to the track these days, but I’m always glued to the TV,” she said.

“I think we will have a bit of fun during the Winter Carnival with these open class pacers.”

Major Cam is the seventh foal of eight out of the 1994 Fake Left mare, Ella Cam, who won 14 races.

His older half-brother, the 2003 Barnett Hanover gelding named Western Cam, won 19 races and $180,041 between April 2007 and June 2014.

Rasmussen is all too familiar with champion pacers; she owned one of the greatest ever, in quadruple millionaire and multiple Group 1 champion – Blacks A Fake.

Cini and McMullen combine for a hat trick

Another highlight of the 11-race card was the training and driving hat trick achieved by Alberton trainer Stephen Cini and his regular driver, Narissa McMullen.

The duo got the ball rolling by winning the third event with The Money Ball and then struck two races later with Mymatepog - they paid $12.80 and $2.10 respectively.

The third and final win came in the feature trot – the  $12,850 Pryde’s Easifeed Trot when Garland Greene not only led all the way, but in doing so confirmed himself as Queensland’s best squaregaiter.

The Julius Caesar gelding dictated the pace, trotting the 2,138m mobile in 2:38.3 (mile rate 1:59.2) with sectionals of 31.3, 31.6, 29.3, and 28.4.

Garland Greene held out the current Queensland Trotter-of-the-Year, the Grant Dixon-trained Our Overanova by a neck. They had a good battle all the way down the straight. Garland Greene was the $2.10 favourite.

It was the five-year-old bay’s 12^th win in 43 starts and has now banked $71,574 since making his debut at Tabcorp Park Menangle in October 2018.

It was also Garland Greene’s fourth triumph in his last five starts, his only blemish came last Saturday when he broke early and lost all chance.

“Garland Greene proved he is one of the best trotters here in Queensland, he just keeps getting stronger - he’s the best trotter that I have sat behind,” McMullen said.

McMullen’s three victories saw her season tally advance to 128 wins, closing in on Queensland Premiership pace-makers, Nathan Dawson (146) and older brother Peter McMullen (145).

Paul Diebert and Grant Dixon complete the top five with 115 and 111 victories respectively, rounding out the centurions.

“It’s going to be very hard to catch Nathan and Pete, however I’ll be trying,” McMullen said.

“I’m lucky to be driving some nice horses at the moment so that will help.

“I think Mymatepog is going to be a very nice horse, his win last night really impressed me.”