Maebee continued the good run in the Horses ’N’ More Devonport Cup (2698m) for trainer-driver Conor Crook, when taking out the Listed event in Launceston on Saturday night.
The seven-year-old Bettors Delight gelding stepped cleanly from his wide front-row draw in the standing start event to settle second before working to the lead near the 1300m.
Crook was happy to hand up to the $3 favourite, Horatius Speculo, near the 2300m.
From there, Maebee ($4.80) had a lovely run behind the leader, and was always travelling well, before improving three wide from the 300m where he proved too good late to score by a head from the fast finishing Dalton Shard ($8.50) with Star Major 1.4m away third in a mile rate of 2:01.4s.
“He concentrates pretty well on the back of a hat. Even when he hit the front, he started floating around.
“We were able to pop around (early in the race) and hand up to the favourite (Horatius Speculo), and we were going to get our chance from there,” said Crook.
Maebee started his racing career in Tasmania before being transferred to New South Wales.
He was then purchased to race in Queensland, where he had two starts before being purchased by Crook.
“These were the races we were looking to target (when purchased). We always knew he had the ability. When he was down with Todd (Rattray), he was always in the good races, and he did a good job for James (Rattray) up at Menangle. He has always been up to this level, just we were lucky to get him.
“We will dip our toe in the market to sell him to the USA, we will keep him racing until he is sold,” said Crook about the future plans when asked post-race.
The win was the third Devonport Cup for Crook. He won the race in 2022, which was the last held at the Devonport Showgrounds, with Lip Reader, and he also trained last year’s winner, Magnetic Terror.
The Cup win was one of three driving wins for Crook on the night
He partnered the Kate MacLeod-trained What A Woman ($3.60) in the Hardings Group Pace (1680m), and the Deborah Williams prepared Camelot Jedimaster ($6.00) in the Tasfreight Pace (1680m).
