Smart WA-bred five-year-old Maximum Rock was in doubt to contest the 2503m The Game Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night when his trainer-driver Chris Voak discovered on Thursday that the gelding had a significant problem with his off fore foot.
“I found out that he had a bad separation, and he lost a quarter of his hoof when I cut out the problem area,” said Voak. “I then put on a special shoe to provide the hoof with the necessary support --- and he was able to race with any discomfort. He suffered no pain, but it will take four to five months for the hoof to re-grow.”
Maximum Rock worked hard in the breeze when a fighting fourth behind Thelittle Master in a qualifying heat of the Nights Of Thunder the previous Friday night, and he was named an emergency for the feature event on Friday night.
Voak was not fazed that Maximum Rock had performed so well in a mobile sprint event and was lining up in a standing-start event on Friday night which was over the much longer 2503m journey.
Maximum Rock, a $7.40 chance, was handicapped off the 20m mark, and he began swiftly to move to the breeze, with the frontmarker and $1.75 favourite Dourado setting a solid pace.
Maximum Rock got to the front 350m from home, and he fought on well to win by a half-length from $21 chance Rock Me Over, who finished strongly from seventh at the bell. Maximum Rock is by Rock N Roll World and is the only foal out of Life To The Max, who raced 69 times for six wins, 15 placings and $41,870. Maximum Rock has earned $126,844 from ten wins and 16 placings from45 starts.
His victory on Friday night gave Voak the final leg of a training and driving treble, following wins earlier in the program with Queeninthecorner and Fat Louie. This was a special occasion for Voak --- celebrating his first metropolitan-class training triumph of three winners.
Voak, who relies on the considerable help of his wife Asha, also paid tribute to Aaron Brown, a former successful trainer in South Australia and Victoria, who has been the stable foreman for the past six months.
“Since he has joined the team Browny has helped with different ideas,” said Voak. “All our horses are going a lot better, and it is no coincidence that they are going so well.”
Queeninthecorner, the $1.60 favourite, produced a strong frontrunning display to win the 2130m Perth Now Pace over 2130m, while Fat Louie ($17.40) impressed in coming from seventh at the bell to burst to the front 150m later before racing away to win by four lengths from $20 chance Rockandrollartist, who finished strongly from ninth with a lap to travel.
Franco Encore ($13) sprinted fast to cover the lead time in 34.6sec. and then he withstood a spirited challenge for the lead from the $3.30 favourite My Watchlist.
“The race was set up for us,” said Voak. “Fat Louie has been plagued by injury and I’m sure he will improve a lot. He might go with some of the better horses. He is still quite green and was looking around on the line.
“The ease with which he got around them was surprising. There were a lot of horses out of their comfort zone.”
