"He [Drum Major] is a work in progress," said Pam Chalmers, whose husband Chris trains the Art Major-Diamond Fleet gelding at Halswell. Drum Major was having his 17th start. Mr and Mrs Chalmers race Drum Major with John and Helen Donaldson.
Drum Major was given to the Chalmers by Clive and Rona McKay who bought him at the 2009 premier yearling sale.
Drum Major qualified in his first trial as a late 2yr-old for Cran Dalgety. He was passed on after two unplaced starts at three.
• Bushrod gave trainer-driver Jim Curtin his first win in new colours.
"We just decided to go for a change," Curtin said.
The new colours of red, white outlined star and white outlined stars on collar replace the maroon with green and gold braces that have been to the fore in recent seasons through Franco Emirate. Bushrod is raced by Russell Nieper, of Dunedin, the owner of Franco Emirate.
• Lively Shard, a winner on Sunday, has responded to a change of environment by winning his two starts since joining the Ashworths Beach stable of Gavin Smith.
Lively Shard won at the Nelson meeting in January at his second start when trained by Laurence Hanrahan, but his form was mixed in his next 10 starts.
• El Castro, winner of his last two starts, has been sold to Australia by owners Barrie Barber and Michael Chin. El Castro, trained by Phil Williamson, has raced four times.
• Excel Stride advanced in favour for the 4yr-old final of the Breeders Crown when he won a free-for-all at Melton on Friday night in a 1.52.1 mile rate for 1720m (mobile). Smoken Up was second.
Mustang Mach, a rival for Excel Stride in the Final, won the Melton Cup from Sushi Sushi in a 1.55.4 rate for the 2240m (mobile).
Guns N Roses, raced by Tom Kilkelly, of Tisbury, won in a 1.52.4 rate for 1720m.
