Gary Subratie ... saddled two winners in Princess Rea and Abeng. - file

Orville Clarke, Freeelance Writer

RETURNING FROM a four-month absence in immaculate condition, MAJOR MAYER proceeded to make all the running in the Ash Wednesday Trophy overnight allowance feature over 1300 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Installed a 9-2 fourth choice with Richie Mitchell astride, MAJOR MAYER led narrowly from the well-backed CALABASH BAY (7-2) on the inside and the 6-5 favourite PASSA PASSA on the outside, before opening up leaving the half mile.

He turned for home three lengths clear of PASSA PASSA and appeared to be racing only the clock from the below the distance, cruising home by 4 1/2 lengths from CALABASH BAY under five-time champion jockey Trevor Simpson, with PASSA PASSA placing third in the 10-strong field.

Trained by Michael McIntosh for the T.Y.S. Racing Stables, MAJOR MAYER, who was just below classic standard last season, chalked up his second consecutive win and his fifth from 20 career starts.

Royal Dad Trophy

Bred by Henry W. Jaghai, the 4-y-o chestnut gelding by Sir Lal Bahadur out of Tee Vee Gee had previously won the Royal Dad Trophy at 8-1 over the circular nine course on October 25, also in post-to-post fashion with Mitchell at the helm.

Trainer McIntosh said the break was never going to make a difference and it was just more of thesame: "This horse is as versatile as they come ... he both sprint and stays and having trained well in preparation for this race, we were pretty confident.

"The jockey knows this horse. I didn't give him any specific instructions on how to ride him. I simply told him to ride the horse according to how the race is run. He got away quickly from the number six post position and Mitchell just put him in front.

"This is a 1:12.0 horse for six furlongs and he came back with a six-furlong split of 1:12.3 today," said McIntosh.

On a day when the apprentice riders Javour Simpson, Carlton Malcolm and Omar Walker rode two winners each while Gary Subratie and Richie Todd saddled two each, the $5 million Pick-9, which had eluded punters for six race days, was caught by 21 punters, each receiving $236,713.