Major returns to winning ways

Major Beel ended a barren spell when he produced a tenacious frontrunning performance for a first-up victory at Randwick on Saturday afternoon over 1600 metres.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained son of Savabeel hadn’t won since he claimed top honours in the 2023 G1 ATC Derby.

Bred and part-owned by Waikato Stud, Major Beel had been given a pair of lead-up trials ahead of his resuming run off a four-month break.

He was quickly into stride to take up his customary role at the head of affairs and was hotly pursued in the run home but stayed on valiantly under the urgings of rider Tim Clark for the fifth win of his career.

Major Beel is the first foal of the unraced O’Reilly mare Gram, who has subsequently produced two Savabeel fillies and a colt and is again due to foal this season to the champion sire.

Gram is a daughter of the G2 Karakatta Plate winner Gold Rocks, whose daughters Gold Fever and Gold Rocks both won editions of the G2 Matamata Breeders’ S. while Calaverite was successful at Listed level as a juvenile in the Gimcrack S. and St Albans S.

Major Beel was bought out of Waikato Stud’s draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for A$260,000 by Waterhouse, Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds.