Max Delight A Panacea For Aiken
Champion trainer David Aiken has enjoyed great success with his pacers in Western Australia, and it was an emotional time at Gloucester Park on Friday night when his old war horse Max Delight caused an upset with a thrilling victory in the $1,250,000 TABtouch Nullarbor slot race.
The win came as a tremendous boost for the much loved 67-year-old Aiken, who has recently won the greatest battle of his life, getting the all clear after a three-year fight to overcome prostate cancer.
“This has given me a great lift, one hundred per cent,” said Aiken. “My health is really good, and I got a clean bill last November when I finished radiation.”
Aiken was forced to leave his farm and training establishment at Avenel in country Victoria two years ago and move to New South Wales to care for his team of pacers at Menangle.
“In Victoria I had to travel 130 kilometres a day for treatment in Shepparton, and it was much easier to move to New South Wales where it was only a ten-minute trip for treatment,” he explained.
And on Friday night Aiken capped a splendid training feat to produce ten-year-old gelding Max Delight in fine fettle to score a wonderful victory and end a losing sequence of 14.
This gave Aiken his 34TH Group 1 success, and it was emerging star reinsman Will Rixon’s fourth Group 1 victory and his 929TH win in an outstanding ten-year career.
The win was also a great tonic for Max Delight’s owner, octogenarian Mick Maxfield, a Devonport businessman who is not enjoying the best of health and was unable to make the trip to Perth where he was represented at Gloucester Park by his son Dean.
Max Delight was sold for the then Australian record of $245,000 at the 2017 Sydney yearling sale, and the son of champion sire Bettors Delight has now earned $2,009,599. He is the second foal out of former brilliant mare Lady Euthenia, who raced 40 times for 21 wins, seven placings and $461,285. She won four Group 1 feature events as a two-year-old before winning the 2010 New South Wales Oaks at Harold Park.
Max Delight, lining up for his 161ST start, was a $19 chance in Friday night’s race, with local ten-year-old stars Minstrel ($2.70 favourite) and Magnificent Storm ($3.10) dominating betting.
Magnificent Storm (barrier four) was expected to burst straight to the front, but when he didn’t, it left Rixon in a quandary, whether to make a bid for the early lead or to look for an ideal sit in the one-wide line.
“The plan was to get to the running line and get behind Minstrel in the one-out, one-back position,” said Rixon. “It crossed my mind when Aiden (De Campo, driving Magnificent Storm) didn’t come out, that I should force my way to the front.
“I took a breath and thought about making a bid for the front, but decided against it, considering we would get pressured in the lead.”
This was a wise decision. The polemarker Hugotastic ($17) led for the first 400m before Magnificent Storm surged to the front, with Minstrel moving, menacingly, to his outside and leaving Max Delight with a perfect trail.
Magnificent Storm was being hailed as the winner when he shrugged off the challenge from Minstrel approaching the home turn. But he was unable to keep Max Delight at bay, with the veteran finishing powerfully to gain the upper hand 45m from the post and winning by a neck from $71 outsider and Minstrel’s stablemate Golden Lode, who thundered home, out five and six wide after being ninth with a lap to travel. Minstrel battled on to finish sixth.
Magnificent Storm finished third, a length ahead of the $7.50 third fancy Ubetcha Tigerpie, who ran home solidly after racing in the one-out, two-back position. The winner rated a smart 1.54.9 over the 2536m journey after the final three 400m sections were run in 28.7sec., 27.8sec. and 29sec.
For Aiken, Max Delight’s win revived wonderful Gloucester Park memories when his pacers Lennytheshark and Hectorjayjay performed so brilliantly, with Lennytheshark winning the 2015 Interdominion championship and being a heat winner in the following Inters series in Perth in 2016 and 2017. Hectorjayjay won three heats and finished second to Smolda in the final of the 2017 Inters.
“Lenny was pretty special,” said Aiken. “And this horse (Max Delight) has been a great old horse.”
Max Delight had three different trainers for his first eight starts, in New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria, before entering Aiken’s stables, and in March 2019 he was a $71 outsider when he won the 2019 NSW Derby before winning the Tasmanian Derby.
A year later, Max Delight finished third behind Lochinvar in the Chariots Of Fire at Menangle and suffered a strained tendon which kept him out of action for eleven months.
Providing he pulls up well after his Nullarbor victory Max Delight will contest the $300,000 Fremantle Cup next Friday night.
Prentice Eyes A Winner
Ace trainer Kim Prentice has always had a keen eye for selecting youngsters, and he was spot on with his judgment when he outlaid a mere $10,000 to purchase a Fly Like An Eagle colt at the 2024 Perth APG yearling sale.
The colt is named Wake Up Geoff and is trained by Prentice for a syndicate of five owners who celebrated a splendid victory in the $100,000 TABtouch Bet Loop APG Sales Classic for three-year-old colts and geldings at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
This took Wake Up Geoff’s record to 12 starts for three wins, three seconds and $107,038 in prizemoney, and his stylish win over classy youngsters Ideal Beach and Amalfi Knight was a strong indication he will develop into a leading contender in upcoming rich feature events for three-year-olds, including the $200,000 WA Derby on October 30.
Wake Up Geoff is the fifth foal out of Bettors Delight mare Gaylees Delight, who earned $67,784 from five wins and 11 placings from 37 starts, the final 14 of which were in WA for a solitary win at Pinjarra in 2016.
Wake Up Geoff showed good early promise, and he gave a sample of his potential when he finished second to the brilliant D Mac in the Group 1 Golden Slipper last September. He was making his second appearance after a spell when he began from the prized No. 1 barrier in Friday night’s 2130m classic.
He was the third fancy at $6.50 and was beaten for early pace by the $1.85 favourite Amalfi Knight, who began speedily from the No. 3 barrier and led by a full length but was unable to cross Wake Up Geoff, who was driven hard by Mitch Miller during a flying lead time of 35.5sec.
Aiden De Campo then was able to angle Amalfi Knight across to the pegs after 450m and enjoy an ideal trip behind the leader, who relaxed over the opening quarters of the final mile in 30.8sec. and 30.6sec. before sprinting over the final quarters in 28.1sec. and 28.7sec. and winning by 4m from the $3 second fancy Ideal Beach, who ran on determinedly from seventh in the middle stages. Amalfi Knight was 1m away in third place.
“Wake Up Geoff’s gate speed has been a chink in his armour, but to hold the lead tonight hopefully will give him the confidence, going forward,” said Miller. “It is exciting to have a genuine Friday night horse, and I’m looking forward for the big races for three-year-olds.”
Thirty-one-year-old Miller completed a double when he drove $11 chance Rellim to an easy all-the-way win in the 2130m Real Punters Play Here TABtouch Pace. The seven-year-old, trained by Miller’s elder brother Dean, ended a losing sequence of 31 and improved his record to 86 starts for ten wins, 31 placings and $104,301.
Freak Run Aids Little Darling
Classy mare Little Darling’s prospects of winning the $75,000 Share Bets With TABtouch Bet Loop Empress Stakes at Gloucester Park on Friday night appeared dismal when she was hopelessly hemmed in on the pegs behind the frontrunning Penny Black halfway down the back straight in the final lap of the 2536m event.
But with 520m to travel the situation changed dramatically when Penny Black shifted out and the breeze horse Delightful Peg was badly checked and dropped back, out of contention. This allowed Deni Roberts to send Aardiebytheseaside to the front while Jocelyn Young was able to send Little Darling, an $18.80 chance, through on the inside and settle into a spirited duel with Aardiebytheseaside.
Little Darling fought on tigerishly and got to the front in the home straight and went on to win by a metre from the fast-finishing $10 chance Copy Cat Queen, with Aardiebytheseaside ($10) in third place.
Penny Black’s mistake of rolling up the track was not entirely unexpected, with Young saying she had it in the back of her mind the time when she was driving Steno in a race at Pinjarra and gained a dream inside run when Penny Black shifted out off the pegs.
“After getting the inside run tonight Little Darling had to dig deep to fight off Aardiebytheseaside,” said Young.
Little Darling was having her first start for a month on Friday night, with trainer Cameron Ross explaining that a month between runs was not ideal but was necessary after the mare had finished at the rear at two appearances in March.
“She won first-up (on February 20) and then we probably overdrove her and things didn’t work out,” said Ross. “She wasn’t racing at her best, so we stopped and went back to the start. We gave her a block of work and tonight she showed that was the right move.
“She will now be set for the $50,000 WASBA Breeders Stakes on May 8, and after that she might have a let-up before getting ready for the big events for mares in November.”
Seven-year-old Little Darling boasts a fine record of 65 starts for 15 wins, 24 placings and $488,558 and will be one of main fancies for the $100,000 Norms Daughter Classic and the $150,000 Mares Classic.
Heres Herbie’s Great WA Debut
Heres Herbie revealed outstanding ability and splendid staying potential when he made a remarkable Australian debut with a runaway victory in the 2130m TABtouch Scan My Bet Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Though he was successful at only nine of his 66 starts in New Zealand Heres Herbie looks destined to develop into a serious contender for the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup on December 11.
Having his first start since winning the 2810m Christmas Cup on the grass track at the Banks Peninsular course on December 29, he was the $1.20 favourite from the No. 5 barrier on Friday night and was held at bay by $11 chance Opal Hunter during a scorching lead time of 35.5sec.
Driver Deni Roberts then was content to remain in the breeze while Opal Hunter set a fast pace with an opening 800m of the final mile of 59sec. before the last 800m whizzed by in 56.8sec.
Heres Herbie took a narrow lead with 300m to travel before dashing away to win by 10m from $17 chance Sweet Pins, who finished strongly from ninth at the bell, rating a smart 1.54.3.
Heres Herbie is a younger full-brother Gee Heza Sport, who has earned $553,889 from 15 wins and 17 placings from 68 starts. Heres Herbie is prepared by champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond, who have given Gee Heza Sport 22 starts for eight wins and eight placings.
The Bonds race the full-brothers in partnership with New Zealanders Colin and Julie De Filippi, with Mrs Bond saying: “When Heres Herbie got on his mark in New Zealand, Colin and Julie decided to send the horse to us under a similar deal as we have with Gee Heza Sport.
“It was a great run by Heres Herbie tonight, and he gives you the feel of a very good horse in trackwork at home. So, it wasn’t surprising to see what he did tonight.”
The win of Heres Herbie in race two was followed by victories in the following two events by the Bond-trained Captainshavtime and Mad Monday, four-year-olds driven expertly by Roberts.
Captainshavtime ($1.90) began brilliantly from barrier five and relished the role of pacemaker in winning by more than two lengths from $26 chance Xceptional Arma in the $25,000 TABtouch Download Today Empress Stakes Consolation over 2536m.
“Captainshavtime has matured and is now a happier horse whose past couple of runs have been fantastic,” said Mrs Bond. “If she keeps stepping up, she should play a part in the big races for mares later in the year.”
Mad Monday, an $8.70 chance from barrier six in the $100,000 Preux Chevalier Four-Year-Old Classic over 2536, mustered great early pace to speed to the front after 220m. He then bowled along in front and after final quarters of 28.2sec. and 28.3sec. he beat $34 outsider Last Hard Copy, who finished fast after enjoying a perfect sit behind the pacemaker.
“Mad Monday’s work at home has been really good and this franked what he has done at home,” said Mrs Bond. “He will be aimed at the feature events for four-year-olds later in the year.”
Master trainer Gary Hall Snr notched his sixth win in the annual Parliamentarians Cup when Gary Hall Jnr brought $7.30 chance Alta Tribute home with a spirited burst to snatch a half-head victory over the fast-finishing Tiger Royal ($11).
Hall Senior’s previous Parliamentarians Cup winners have been Tricky Bey (1994), Our London Pride (1999), Im Themightyquinn (2012), Ideal Alice (2016) and Prince Of Pleasure (2025).
Wishing Belle ($1.10) maintained her outstanding form for leading trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo when she began out wide at barrier No. 8 before dashing to the front after 220m and setting the pace and winning the $100,000 APG Sales Classic for three-year-old fillies by a half-length from $21 chance Livy Ann, who trailed the leader throughout.
“She wasn’t at her best tonight,” said De Campo. “She had some feet problems during the week. But she is a tough filly and got the job done.”
Edwards Loves A Bargain
Gnangara trainer Luke Edwards relishes the challenge of revitalising old pacers, and he and several faithful stable clients are delighted at the form of eight-year-old Getn Wiggy Withit, who is proving a bargain.
Getn Wiggy Withit, driven by Joey Suvaljko, was an outsider at $47.80 and at $81 on the fixed market when he thundered home from eleventh at the bell to win the 2130m TABtouch Place A Same Race Multi Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The New Zealand-bred gelding was bought for $5000 seven months ago and has earned $29,412 from three wins and two seconds from 14 starts for his new connections.
“A lot of the owners of Getn Wiggy Withit were first-time owners with Shehadi, a mare I purchased for $4000 who went on to have 164 starts for eleven wins, 34 placings and $126,248 in prizemoney,” said the 36-year-old Edwards.
“When I retired Shehadi, I replaced her with Getn Wiggy Withit, a pacer I liked because he is by American Ideal and was a metro winner. I have had a bit of joy with these old pacers that I have been able to rejuvenate.
“I’ve cut back from a bigger stable and have got down to eight from a high of 30. I have a hill at home, and I keep my horses away from the track and take them to the beach.
“I have always said that if a horse has ability early in his career, he should always be able to get back into that form.”
