Max Delight and Captains Knock will go head-to-head again at Menangle on Saturday night. Photo by Club Menangle
IT’S a field that wouldn’t look out of place in an Inter Dominion Championship Grand Final.
Yet it’s ‘Marvellous’ Max that is likely to steal the show in Saturday night’s Menangle feature, the $30,600 Alf Phillis Free-For-All (Race 5).
He might be nine-years-old but Max Delight has never raced in better form and rated an incredible 1:48.9 in scoring at Menangle last weekend.
That was the third time this amazing pacer has broken the magical 1:50 barrier in winning races and his trainer David Aiken is as impressed as anyone with how his stable star continues to perform.
"After the Inters I had planned to give him 10 days off,” said Aiken.
“But he was going crazy in the paddock and I thought he was going to hurt himself, so I started working him again after only four days.
“He pulled up in terrific shape after last week’s win and is ready to go again.
“He’ll race on Saturday night then trial as we head for the Len Smith Mile on September 6.”
Drawn in gate two for his next task, Max Delight has enough gate speed to give reinsman Will Rixon plenty of options.
Two of his rivals’ trainers know the enormity of Saturday night's task.
Brad Hewitt has Captains Knock and Horn Player in the feature but has no favours as the pair are awkwardly drawn.
“I couldn’t be happier with either of them. It’s just a shame they’re badly drawn,” said Hewitt.
“Horn Player hasn’t missed a place in a dozen starts.
“And Captains Knock went really well first-up after the Inter Dom. He should run a really good race.”
Michael Stanley’s hope Ubetcha Tigerpie has had a great winter racing in Sydney.
“He was disappointing last start so he’s had a week off and worked well this week,” said Stanley.
“He’ll run well but might struggle now the top horses are back at Menangle.
“He’d been in good form before that and he’s the sort of horse that has to be driven for one run and use his speed.”
Stanley also has unbeaten youngster Enola in Race 6:
“She’s a really good filly who trialled well and also raced well,” he said.
“She a big raw filly with natural speed and talent.
“I worked her with Ubetcha Tigerpie, so that really shows what ability she has.
“These two year-olds come from different angles. There’s different form lines and it should be a great race.”
