Trainer Adam Chambers undeterred by strong field for Major Share in Doveton Stakes at Caulfield

Trainer Adam Chambers was surprised at the strength of the Doveton Stakes nominations but remains committed to running Major Share at Caulfield.

Stronger than expected opposition won’t derail Warrnambool trainer Adam Chambers’ Caulfield plan with smart sprinter Major Share.

Major Share showed he was up to stakes class in the autumn, prompting Chambers to delay the five-year-old’s spring campaign as long as possible to ensure firm tracks were likely.

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Chambers could get his way with Saturday’s track conditions at Caulfield but the depth of entries for the Listed Doveton Stakes (1100m) surprised the trainer.

“I’m really happy with him going into the race but I’m probably a little bit surprised with the strength of the race,” Chambers said.

“I deliberately held him back for the back end of the carnival because he doesn’t like soft ground.

“I thought most of the good sprinters would be out now but horses like Bellatrix Star, Marble Nine and Boston Rocks are there.

“There was probably four or five that I thought we were a bit stiff to run into, the Jollys’ horse is another one, that Aviatress, they’ll all be hard to beat.

“But anyway, we’ll take our place.”

Major Share has had two runs this time in, finishing fourth to the speedy Beast Mode when resuming on Cox Plate day before going down narrowly in a Listed race at Flemington on Oaks Day.

Major Share (right) will be back at Flemington for the Group 3 Standish Handicap in early January. Picture: Getty Images

Major Share beat home classy sprinter Rey Magnerio, who will tackle Saturday’s Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes in Perth, despite meeting him on unfavourable weight terms at Flemington.

Chambers said meeting such tough competition would be the norm for Major Share, whose handicap rating has climbed 17 points in the last 12 months.

“His rating has really crept up without winning, which is a hard pill to swallow, so hopefully he can win one of those races at some point,” Chambers said.

“We have to take them on. We can’t hide.”

Chambers said a Group 3 sprint at Flemington in early January was his main aim with Major Share, who has shown a liking for the straight course.

“There’s a big circle around the Standish Handicap,” Chambers said.

“It’s 1200(m), a handicap down the straight so it’s the perfect race for him.

“He just loves Flemington. (Jockey) Tom Madden said he’s just a different animal, even going to the gates, he’s a bit of a beast there.”

Originally published as Trainer Adam Chambers undeterred by strong field for Major Share in Doveton Stakes at Caulfield