RACE caller Fred Hastings labelled it a 'big run', but as good as Major Occasion's effort was in Saturday night's Group 3 J L Raith Memorial at Menangle Park, there was one rival who did even better.
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The Bathurst father-son trainer-driver combination of Chris and Anthony Frisby had to settle for second place in the 1,609 metres feature for three-year-old fillies as Major Occasion was beaten home by Our Bare Knuckle.
From the powerful Mark Purdon stable, Our Bare Knuckle ($3.30) had struck trouble early in the feature and at the 800m mark was some seven lengths off the pace in last.
But she made up that ground, charged to the lead down the straight and went on to win in a scorching 1:51.5 mile rate.
Major Occasion ($10.80), who had won the Ray and Olive McCarthy Memorial last start at Bathurst on December 26, began well from barrier six.
Anthony Frisby positioned the daughter of Art Major one-out and one-back as the pace was on from the get go, early leader Arts Treasure clocking opening splits of 26.9 and 29.5 seconds.
With some 400m to go Frisby peeled out and headed three wide with Major Occasion and while she ran down those in front of her, Our Bare Knuckle finished stronger on her outside.
At the post 3.8m separated the pair, but the result still continued a strong run of form for the Bathurst filly, who has placed no worse than third since May last year.