A HARNESS racing season shaping every bit as dominant as the last one rolled on for Strathfielsdsaye's Douglas stable at Ballarat on Saturday night.
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Already well clear atop the state trainer's premiership standings, trainer Julie Douglas added her 16th win for the month courtesy of stable newcomer Major Roll.
Driven by Glenn Douglas, the six-year-old gelding was having his first start for the Douglases and came from one out one back at the bell to surge past his rivals in the straight to record a polished 3.1m win.
It was the ultra-consistent son of Roll With Joe and the mare Courlivia's 23rd career win from 65 starts for earnings of $219,797. He has also been placed 17 times.
Major Roll has spent the bulk of his career in New South Wales, but was trained by David Moran and Kasey Kent at Kialla from August through to December.
His Ballarat Cup night win was his first in 16 starts since his last victory at Menangle last June when he was trained by Belinda McCarthy.
While Major Roll is no longer with her, the visiting McCarthy enjoyed plenty of success on Saturday night, taking out the $110,000 Group 1 Ballarat Pacing Cup with Spirit Of St Louis and and the first heat of The Breakthrough Pace with Ilikemebettor.
It was the third straight cup win for the five-year-old gelding and his 20-year-old driver on their trip down south, following wins at Bendigo and Shepparton.
In a carbon copy of Bendigo Pacing Cup night earlier in the month when Spirit Of St Louis won the cup and Im Ready Jet won the Group 1 Maori Mile, the Anton Golin-trained mare again won the trotters feature at Ballarat, claiming the Group 2 E.B. Cochrans Trotters Cup.
Major Roll's win gave the Douglases three wins for the week after success at Bendigo on Thursday night with Malava Miss and Mildura on Wednesday night with Starvin Marvin.
A tally of 16 winners for the month has Julie Douglas on pace to emulate or better last year's brilliant return of 184 winners for the year, placing her second on the premiership table behind only Emma Stewart with 197.
The Douglases will look to build on their momentum with two runners at Maryborough on Monday, including Pray Tell in the $25,000 Central Victorian Pacing Championship.
The stable's other runner Miss Tyler will be chasing her fourth-straight win in the NR 52 to 55 Pace, following wins at Bendigo, Echuca and Maryborough.
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