Versatile trotter Majestic Ga Ga possesses dazzling gate speed and is a brilliant frontrunner. And she has also proved her worth as a determined stayer in standing-start events.
The Victorian-bred four-year-old mare was the $1.90 favourite when she proved too speedy for her seven rivals in the 1730m Bring The Family Trot at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Trainer Michael Young and driver Emily Suvljko and were lavish in their praise of Majestic Ga Ga after she had won easily from the redoubtable veteran trotter Patched, zipping home over the final 400m sections in 29.2sec. and 29.5sec. and rating 1.58.6.
“We are aiming her for the upcoming features, the $31,000 Trotters Sprint (over 1730m on January 16) and the $50,000 Trotters Cup (a 2503m stand on January 30),” said Young.
Majestic Ga Ga began brilliantly from barrier No. 6 and was not extended in leading all the way and beating $8 chance Patched, who enjoyed an ideal passage in the one-out, one-back position before finishing determinedly.
“Majestic Ga Ga has such good gate speed that I didn’t even put the stick on her; she just used her natural speed to race to the front,” said Suvaljko. “It’s hard to find a trotter with that sort of gate speed, and at the finish I didn’t pull the plugs.”
Young said that Majestic Ga Ga was sure to be improved by Friday night’s performance. “She was a bit unders tonight,” he explained. “I think we flattened her on the track the other day. But 1.58 for a trotter around Gloucester Park is pretty good.”
Majestic Ga Ga, a daughter of Canadian sire Majestic Son, is out of New Zealand mare Arannalea, who raced 24 times for five wins, five placings and $30,281.
Majestic Ga Ga won six races in Victoria, and her WA record stands at 23 starts for ten wins and eight placings, improving her career record to 52 starts for 16 wins, 16 placings and $137,916 in prizemoney. She has won five times in mobiles and five times in stands in WA.
Young also was successful on Friday night with Dawson, who overcame the 50m handicap to score an easy victory over Alfa Prince in the Chaff City Handicap over 2030m at Busselton.
Dawson was the $1.60 favourite driven by Shane Young, the trainer of Alfa Prince, who was handled by Megan Worthington.
“I have had Dawson in my stable for two weeks, and the horse returned to Ray Jones’ property at Greenbushes after his Busselton win,” said Young.