Trainer Adam Chambers dedicates breakthrough win at Flemington to Dean Holland

Trainer Adam Chambers posted a breakthrough Flemington success but his first thought was for good mate Dean Holland.

Major Share (right) prevails to give jockey Tom Madden and trainer Adam Chambers their first win at Flemington. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Trainer Adam Chambers took time to remember a great mate after posting his first Flemington win with smart sprinter Major Share.

Major Share lasted to win the VRC Super Saturday, 8 March (1200m) over the fast-finishing Bossy Nic but Chambers’ first thought was elsewhere.

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“I just want to take a moment to remember my good mate Dean Holland,” Chambers said.

“Last time I was here at this track, it was for his funeral.

“I followed his coffin down the straight and the next time I was going to be here was going to be winning a race and thinking of Dean.”

Major Share won at The Valley and Terang before stepping up to 1200m at Flemington.

Chambers said he had no plan to run Major Share at Flemington before the lightly-raced four-year-old started his summer campaign.

“If you had said to me at the start of the preparation that we’d be going down the straight, I would have had reservations because of his race pattern,” Chambers said.

“Because he sits on speed, Caulfield and Moonee Valley, they’re probably his tracks.

“He was lost today but we were lucky enough to get away with it.”

Major Share holds on! 🤏

Adam Chambers trains his first Flemington winner! 🥇@[e-mail]/lJgVRrb3p6

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) January 18, 2025

Major Share’s win under jockey Tom Madden, who also recorded his maiden Flemington success, was his sixth from only eight starts.

Chambers said he would continue to guide Major Share through his grades, taking advantage of the strong Saturday prizemoney.

“I’ll just take him through his grades step by step,” Chambers said.

“He’s built a good profile to this stage so I’d like to continue doing that.”

CHARMED RUN FOR BEGG

Trainer Grahame Begg found the perfect way to celebrate his father’s birthday when Reluctantlycharmed scored at Flemington.

Begg’s father, former Sydney training great Neville Begg. turned 94 on Saturday.

Reluctantlycharmed bounced back from a fourth placing on Pakenham Cup Day to post her third win in four starts in the Be A Mate, Nominate Trophy (1100m).

Craig Williams guided the $7.50 chance to a long neck win over Actuality ($12).

“She was probably ridden a little bit close to the lead last start, and 1200m stretched her out, but, geez, she travelled well (today),” Begg said.

“Craig did his homework going into the race, and we’re very, very happy.”

"In the Makybe Diva colours!" ❤️💙🤍

Reluctantlycharmed shows a nice turn of foot to win! @[e-mail]/jI3nroz2nk

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) January 18, 2025

SIMPLE SOLUTION FOR SHAIYHAR

Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young have a simple formula for success with import Shaiyhar.

Just send the gelding to race over the Flemington 2000m course.

Shaiyhar has won three races in Australia, all over 2000m at Flemington.

The six-year-old had not raced over 2000m at Flemington since his last win in August 2023 but a return to the course brought the right result in the TAB Australian Cup Race Day, 29 March (2000m).

Jockey Craig Williams completed a Flemington double on Shaiyhar after earlier saluting on Reluctantlycharmed for Grahame Begg.

Originally published as Trainer Adam Chambers dedicates breakthrough win at Flemington to Dean Holland