Major Tommie barks the orders

GARTH PULLER never really got the universal praise given to the likes of Michael Roberts, Piere ‘Strydom and their ilk but he rode in a time when as one trainer put it after his jockey was stood down - and I quote loosely - “ I could throw the colours into the weighing room and never be disappointed with who picked them up,” that’s how strong the riding ranks were in his time.

- ANDREW HARRISON

So when he picks out a rider, his opinion is backed by a lifetime of experience at the top end of the riding ranks.

He gave the apprentice who rode Major Tommie at his last start a piece of his mind on his return to the paddock as the lightly raced son of One World was a winner before shifting ground behind the eventual winner.

Major Tommie was not well in at the weights for the Progress Plate that headed the card at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday but Serino Moodley made not mistakes as Major Tommie got the better of the useful filly Hierarchy with well-backed favourite Luhamba Phambili a well-beaten third.

Howells

Duncan Howells was confident of a decent performance from his filly but commented pre-race that he expected a good effort but that she was not fully wound up but she did leave Muzi Yeni one short of his 2500th winner.