Late bloomer Phantom Major on the rise

Promising four-year-old Phantom Major broke through in impressive fashion with victory in Wednesday’s $100,000 Schweppes Handicap (1200m) at Canterbury, producing a powerful finishing burst at just his second race start.

An entire son of Snitzel, Phantom Major has been given plenty of time by champion trainer Chris Waller, making his long-awaited debut at Newcastle last month where he finished a close second in a 1250m maiden.

Phantom Major settled towards the rear of the field before unleashing an explosive turn of foot in the straight to score by a length and a half under James McDonald.

Waller revealed the imposing entire has always shown ability, but patience has been the key with the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale graduate.

“It was a really good performance. He’s a big, strong, imposing horse, and it was a bit of a risk bringing him to Canterbury, but his first-up run at Newcastle was great,” Waller said.

“James just let things unfold, and he was dominant over the last part of the race. It’s an interesting high-profile overseas group of owners. They entrusted the horse with us and said, ‘Take your time with him, there’s no rush, just see how things play out.’ He’s just progressively got a little bit better with time, so it’s exciting.

“The owners wouldn’t let me geld him because they think he’s got quite a bit of ability, so we’ll just keep building his value.
“It’s the right time of year to be joining in. He’ll be taking on some of the better horses now with a run under his belt.”