By Duane Ranger
There is a slight chance that the 2014 Victoria Derby winner could line up in the Group One Easter Cup at Addington Raceway on Saturday week (April 15).
Maxim’s trainer/driver, Brent Mangos said the Easter Cup was in the back of his mind, but he would have to go super in tonight’s feature pace at Alexandra Park to warrant a trip south.
“He would have to go well and come through the race really well. At this stage it’s probably a no, but I’m not completely writing off the idea. His suspect legs mean he’s still very much a day-to-day proposition.
“If he did go he would travel alone, and then possibly meet up with a couple of my two-year-olds when I take them to the Jewels next month,” Mangos said.
“In saying that there’s plenty of good races for him up here, so it’s a bit of a win-win situation,” the Waiau Pa horseman added.
Maxim is the second highest ranked pacer in tonight’s 2200m mobile with an R102 rating – one point behind the Barry Purdon trained and driven Arden’s Choice.
They have drawn the second-to-outside and outside front row draws respectively.
“My fella trialled well on Saturday. I was real happy with that run. That was his first run back since winning at ‘The Park’ on February 24. He seems real good and trialled with purpose,” Mangos said.
Maxim Mangos drew six of nine in Saturday’s right-handed 2500m mobile workout at Pukekohe.
He settled him second last early before going around to sit parked and then landing the one-one, when The Faithful went and sat parked outside pacemaker Robbie Burns and the trailing Jack’s Legend.
In the lane Maxim powered home wide out to get within three quarters of a length to Jack’s Legend and Zac Butcher, who stopped the clock in 3:08.8 (mile rate 2:01.5) – and home in 56.3 and 27.6.
“He’s still got issues with his legs but I think he can go close on Friday, even though he’s drawn out a bit I think he’s up to that field,” Mangos said.
“That Workout really satisfied me,” he stressed.
Maxim suffered tendon problems after placing behind Tiger Tara and Locharburn in the Group One 3-Year-Old feature pace back in March 2014.
The son of Bettor’s Delight and Splendid Deal, who was formerly trained by Barry Purdon, has now had three solid starts for Mangos.
He resumed from a 34-month spell with a promising second behind Stroke Of Luck at Alexandra Park on January 26, and then on February 12 he was too classy (from 30m behind) for his nine opponents on the grass in the $10,000 Wanganui Cup.
Then Maxim won his first race in 13 Alexandra Park starts (10 placings) on February 24 when he justified his $2.10 favouritism by nailing a $14,000 R70 to R100 handicap pace.
He paced the 2200m mobile in 3:25.2 (mile rate 2:02.2) and last 800m and 400m in 55.6 and 27.3. That was his seventh win in 24 lifetime starts. He’s also placed 13 times for $413,487.
“You can’t plan too far ahead with this fella because of his legs. He’s well now but you have to be very mindful of what he’s been through.
“He swims a lot and does a bit of work on the walking machine as well. Right now I couldn’t be happier with him,” Mangos said.
Maxim has won three times and placed on six occasions in 10 starts over Friday’s 2200m mobile.
He is owned by Katrina Purdon, Trevor Casey, John Lohman, Terry Henderson, The Clear View Racing Number 4 Syndicate and The Anzac racing Syndicate. He was bred by Charles Roberts.
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