Cup Delight As Max Flies High

10 October 2021 | Chris Barsby
Logo
Max Delight

Max Delight

Only three legs of the 2021 Australian Pacing Gold Grand Circuit remain and the race to be crowned the winner is still on.

Sure, King Of Swing holds a healthy lead but it’s not insurmountable.

The Gr.1 $300,000 Pryde’s Easifeed Victoria Cup, staged at Lords Raceway at Bendigo, was expected to be dominated by King Of Swing despite a nasty barrier draw but fortune favours the brave and classy performer Max Delight made full use of an excellent trip to score in the 2150m mobile start feature.

Prepared by David Aiken, who scratched his star pupil a week prior from the final lead-up event, the Smoken Up Sprint owing to hoof abscess only to see him snatch victory from Triple Eight and King Of Swing via the passing lane.

Starting from gate two, the former Australian Three-Year-Old-Of-The-Year who was partnered by champion reinsman Chris Alford charged to an early lead before handing over to the strongly fancied mare, Amazing Dream within the first 250m of the event.

The lead time was covered in 37.3 seconds.

King Of Swing, starting from gate 13, was quickly put into gear by driver David Moran and started to circle three-wide passing the 1600m while General Dodge went in front of him.

The reigning APG Grand Circuit Champion was soon outside Amazing Dream by the 1100m marker.

The first quarter of the final mile was timed in 29 seconds.

With Amazing Dream and King Of Swing at the head of affairs, there was no respite and the pace remained constant.

The second quarter was also timed in 29 seconds.

Entering the backstraight, Amazing Dream really increased the pressure and attempted to run her rivals ragged with a 27.4 third quarter but she couldn’t shake them.

King Of Swing loomed level at the home turn while Max Delight appeared to be bolting behind her as he waited for the passing lane.

In the straight, King Of Swing claimed a narrow lead, but the cavalry was coming thick and fast, Max Delight shot the inside gap while Triple Eight loomed deeper out.

At the finish, Max Delight scored by 3.2 metres from Triple Eight and King Of Swing with Amazing Dream weakening to fourth.

The final quarter was timed in 28.5 seconds.

The winning time was 2:31.2 with the winning mile rate 1:53.2 – well outside of the track of 1:52.3 set by Hurricane Harley last year.

The race was by marred by a fall in the home straight when Malcolms Rhythm (Josh Aiken) crashed to the track but fortunately, horse and driver took no harm from the incident.

“What an amazing week it’s been and what a job by David to have him ready to go for tonight, it might have been a blessing in disguise.” A jubilant Chris Alford said.

It was their third Victoria Cup triumph after combining with Lennytheshark in the 2016 and 2017 versions.

Alford has now driven four (4) Victoria Cup winners with his initial success coming via Golden Reign back in 1995.

Aiken has now prepared seven (7) Grand Circuit winners while Alford has now driven 19 winners at the elite level.

Max Delight, a five-year-old by Bettors Delight from Lady Euthenia (by Art Major) was bred by Peter Lewis and is raced by Mick Maxfield.

King Of Swing leads the way with 220 points for the APG Grand Circuit title followed by Amazing Dream (120), Lochinvar Art and Max Delight (100) sitting next in the pecking order.

Up next, the New Zealand Cup at Addington on November 9 followed by the Inter Dominion (in Sydney) and the Auckland Cup.

Can King Of Swing take the title? Will he be crowned again?

 

Related News

28 March 2024
New HRV chair Adam Kilgour on challenges, opportunities
Newly appointed Harness Racing Victoria chair Adam Kilgour says his passion for a challenge and the people in racing drives his desire to strengthen the industry. Kilgour was yesterday announced to replace Dale Monteith as the head of the board, on which he has served since 2018, and said he was eager...
28 March 2024
La sun of a gun emerges as Blackbook zeros in on breeding line
La Machane won 20 of her 61 starts and more than $330,000 for connections in Ross and Greg Sugars' care and the mare's making just as big an impression in the breeding barn. Having given us La Puddie ($137,179) and La Captain ($182,020), the Bettors Delight mare has another nice type in Benbullan, who...
28 March 2024
Jack ready to show off the next generation of stars at Bathurst
Nathan Jack has his next generation of stars ready to lead a northern assault on Bathurst's two-year-old Group 1s Saturday night, eager to emulate the stable's 2023 success.
28 March 2024
Steve Cleave's Little Black Book $200 game plans for Melton
Steve Cleave has looked through his Little Black Book to produce a $200 game plan for Easter Saturday night at Melton Entertainment Park.
28 March 2024
Jase and Snooze join Ryan for Burning Questions
Chris Svanosio and Jason Lee join Ryan Phelan to look ahead to a fantastic night of Easter Saturday racing from Melton Entertainment Park.
Click for more