By Michael Guerin
Speeding Spur’s defence of his Great Southern Star title has been confirmed.
The outstanding five-year-old trotter all but sealed the trip with a dramatic comeback second at Alexandra Park on Thursday night, nearly winning from a 55m handicap in his first race since last April.
While the comeback run had trainers John and Josh Dickie beaming, it was how Speeding Spur recovered that had them booking his flight to Victoria on Tuesday.
Speeding Spur missed the back end of last season with a leg problem but scans and a vet examination on Friday showed he had taken no harm from Thursday’s huge comeback run.
“He looks great so the trip is definitely on,” said Josh Dickie.
“We are thrilled with how he went and while he got tired in the last 100m his overall time as great.
“It is exciting to have him back and we can’t wait to get to Melton.”
The defence is an unusual one as Speeding Spur has hardly raced since the Great Southern Star last season and the race itself has changed plenty too.
Last year it was two 1720m heats and a final on the same night in March, this season it moves to February 4 and a 2710m mobile.
“That will suit him even better, he is such a great stayer,” said John Dickie.
Speeding Spur’s second to Monnay, from the inform Tim Vince team, wasn’t the only eye-catching comeback on Thursday, with Maxim winning plenty of fans with his second in the last race.
The pocket rocket was having his first start in nearly three years, tendon problems having sidelined him not long after he won the 2014 Victoria Derby.
Trainer Barry Purdon has been incredibly patient with him and then sent him to Brent Mangos so he could have consistent pool work to prepare him withouts stressing his legs.
Mangos has done a superb job, with the now six-year-old looking amazing pre-race and after a tactical race he was run down on the line by Stroke Of Luck.
“Its great to have him back and Brent has been wonderful with the horse,” said Purdon.
Maxim seems sound at the moment and if he can remain that way he will be a welcome addition to the North Island open class ranks.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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