Late bloomer Mathew James sold to Western Australia

Surprise package Mathew James has been sold and is on his way to Western Australia.

Justin PrenticeMathew James, who raced only twice for Lincoln Farms, is to join up-and-coming trainer Justin Prentice who is based at Boyanup, 200km south of Perth.

Trainer Ray Green says Prentice, 30, who has previously taken over talented Kiwis in Sky Major and Dracarys, will be able to place Mathew James to best effect.

Mathew James, inner, noses out Infatuation to win at Cambridge last November.Green did a great job with the three-year-old who was once looking so slow he would gladly have given him away.

But as with all Bettor’s Delights he improved with age and leaves New Zealand with a record of one win, on debut, and a last-start third, both at Cambridge.

A handsome pacer, with good gate speed and a nice action, Mathew James was an expensive yearling buy at $120,000. He is out of Taylor Kate, a half sister to champion filly Lauraella, and from the family of Black Watch, which has produced a string of winners.

Prentice finished fourth on the Perth training premiership last season, producing 69 winners.