The $150,000 West Australian Oaks for three year old fillies at the harness racing meeting at Gloucester Park on Friday night was meant to be a one filly affair with Tricky Styx from barrier two seen as virtually unbeatable.
Justin Prentice had two quality fillies in the field in the form of Quite A Delight and Major Reality but both fillies had drawn poorly on the second line.
Donegal Kahlum from barrier one grabbed the early lead for Colin Brown with the favourite Tricky Styx and Aiden De Campo settling three back on the outer in the running line.
Both of Justin Prentice's fillies settled near the back of the field early and stayed there for the first lap and a half.
With just over 1200 metres to go Gary Hall Jnr took off on Major Reality and worked his way to the death seat with 900 metres to go.
Major Reality was tracked up by the stablemate Quite A Delight with trainer Justin Prentice in the bike and she made the death seat with 800 metres to go.
Passing the 500 metres mark Donegal Kahlum threw out the anchor leaving Quite A Delight in front with Major Reality and Tricky Styx both coming into it wider out.
Quite A Delight turned for home first but bit by bit Major Reality inched closer and right on the line grabbed the stablemate for a great win.
Quite A Delight was gallant in defeat, just half a head away from her stablemate with a length back to Tricky Styx in third.
Major Reality paced the 2536 metres in 3:08.7, a mile rate of 1:59.8 with closing sectionals of 56.2 and 27.5.
Major Reality
Major Reality is a three year old daughter of Art Major who was purchased out of the New Zealand Premier Yearling Sale in Christchurch in 2013 for $31,000 by Kim Prentice which must look a bargain now.
Another filly that Kim Prentice purchased on that trip was Quite A Delight who was also brought out of the New Zealand Premier Sale in Christchurch in 2013 and cost $30,000
And for the trifecta, the third placed Tricky Styx was also purchased out of the 2013 New Zealand Premier Sale at Christchurch for the princely sum of $5,000
It is hard enough to get one filly to peak for an Oaks but to have two runners and to run the quinella is a huge achievement and a real feather in the cap of their young trainer Justin Prentice.
Justin Prentice interview
Harnesslink Media