Prentice in Oaks surprise

Boyanup trainer-reinsman Justin Prentice caused one of the upsets of the year, when he drove Our Major Mama to victory in the $150,000 Group 1 WA Oaks (2536m) at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Having been unplaced in her past two starts and drawing barrier eight, Our Major Mama was touted as an outside chance to win the race, starting at $139.80 to claim the incredible win.

But this did not deter Prentice, who drove with precision through the field in the final 50m, as eight horses battled for the title.

Prentice’s patience earlier in the race paid off as he found a gap and pushed Our Major Mama across the line to claim his second WA Oaks win, having been victorious in 2015 with Major Reality.

The three-year-old filly won by 2.5m from Detroit Lily, while Cott Beach finished a close third.

“The win has come as a complete surprise,” Prentice said. “Our Major Mama is raced by a big syndicate of owners, but only a few of them are on course tonight.

“I had told them not to expect a lot with a bad draw against top opposition.

“She tackled the race with only two wins from 17 starts. But luck went our way.”

The win was Our Major Mama’s third in her career from 18 starts and first since April 3, when she broke through for a win across 2130m.

Prentice’s weekend kept getting better on Saturday night when he trained and drove two winners at the Bunbury Trotting Club.

Back In Twenty ($5.70) claimed victory in the $10.000 Colts and Geldings De Campo Memorial (1609) form Prentice, winning by 7.8m from fellow South West pairing Andrew and Aiden De Campo and Bettor Be Oscar.

Before that he again finished ahead of the De Campos when he drove Dracarys to a win in the $10,000 Fillies De Campo Memorial (1609m).