18 August 2020 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
East Devonport trainer David Hayes landed has first winner since taking up the role as trainer for prominent north-west coast owner-breeder Mick Maxfield, when American Mac scored in a rating 30 to 49 event on Sunday night.
The lightly raced gelded son of American Ideal was able to lead from his pole draw with Rodney Ashwood in the sulky, and he was able to hold off a late charge by Black Ops to score by 1.1 metres in a mile rate of 2m 2.4s for 2200 metres.
American Mac, who would have been one of the tallest horses racing in Launceston on Sunday night, was only having his third start back from a two and a half year break after being sidelined as an early three-year-old.
“He went out with an injury as a three-year-old, we think it was in his front leg, but till this day we just don’t know, it was just a mystery, he is a big raw-boned horse, he was that size as a two-year-old, body-wise he has probably never matured up, but he is a horse that has a great deal of potential, and he is very green still,” said trainer David Hayes after the win.
For punters who took the short odds on the pacer who started as the $2.45 favourite, they would have had their hearts in their mouth half way down the straight when the pacer who was nicely clear of his rivals commenced shortening stride, with Black Ops flying home out wide late.
“It looked like he switched off, at home he can really run, he is one of the most impressive horses I have trained and to sit behind in fast work,” said Hayes.
“He is a six-year-old that is probably a two-year-old given his limited experience,” added Hayes.
It was the seventh start for Hayes since taking over the reins for the Maxfield Standardbreds operation, and it hasn’t been smooth sailing for the stable.
“The wintertime probably wasn’t an ideal time to take over the stable with horses at different stages in there preparation and we had been caught with a virus through the stable, we are just about at the end of it now, and hopefully in the next three to four weeks we will have six or seven horses back in work,” explained the trainer.
“It is a beautiful property, it has everything you want on it,” added Hayes.
In other news from the Maxfield team, 2019 New South Wales and Tasmanian Derby winner Max Delight is starting to continue his road back from injury in Victoria.
The winner of over $350,000 in prize money hasn’t been seen since running third in the Group 1 Chariots Of Fire at Menangle in late February, which was won by Lochinvar Art.
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