Maximus Primed for Country Series Final

Media Release - Thursday October 20

Maximus Prime is a country boy at heart and, in that role, he will now be racing for a major pot of gold during the Melbourne spring carnival.

Maximus Prime winning at Geelong on Wednesday. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli

The Echoes Of Heaven gelding’s first success on Australian soil from Archie Alexander’s Ballarat stable over 1500m at Geelong has secured his place in the A$500,000 Country Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on Oaks Day on November 3.

The series comprises eight A$100,000 heats across Victorian tracks with Maximus Prime booking his spot with his first-up victory on Wednesday, much to the delight of his Rangiora part-owner and former trainer John Blackadder.

“It was a brilliant result and he’d had a couple of months off to freshen him right up and then spent eight weeks at the beach and was on the water walker for quite a while, he’s always gone pretty well fresh,” he said.

Blackadder prepared Maximus Prime to win four races before an unfortunate incident at Riccarton hastened his transfer to Victoria where Alexander’s location and complex was ideal for Maximus Prime.

“In the Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (Gr.2, 1600m) last year he bled, it was just a trickle really and not that serious,” Blackadder said.

“They seem to manage them better over there and we were always going to take him over anyway, he always had the ability.

“Archie has the facilities at Ballarat for paddock training, which is what I do at home and I didn’t want him in a box all day. That’s why we gave him to Archie.”

Pre-race reports ahead of Geelong had strongly suggested a bold showing from Maximus Prime, who had placed in three of his previous five starts for Alexander.

“Archie had been quite confident about the horse. We will definitely be going over to see him race in the final and then come back on the Friday before the (New Zealand) Cup meeting,” Blackadder said.

“Chris Rowe, who bred Maximus, and I own 50 percent of him and the other 50 percent are clients of Archie’s stable.”

Advertisement

On the home front, Blackadder’s immediate focus is on Saturday’s Riccarton meeting where he will be represented by two runners.

Juvenile In The Navy will debut in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (800m) and Eptimum will contest the NZB Ready to Run Sale Trainers Series Handicap (1200m).

One of a number of two-year-olds in the stable, In The Navy finished runner-up in an 800m trial on the course earlier this month in the hands of Rohan Mudhoo, who retains the ride.

“He has improved out of sight with the trial, he’s a nice horse,” Blackadder said.

“He’s quite relaxed and being out in the country environment he doesn’t get wound up. It’s a bit wait and see on Saturday because it’s hard to get a gauge on the other horses.

“He’s one of eight two-year-olds I’ve got at home and I’ve never had that many before so I’m looking forward to the future.”

In The Navy was purchased at Karaka by Blackadder for $25,000 from breeder Valachi Downs’ draft and is out of a half-sister to the Gr.1 Royal Ascot Gold Cup (3800m) winner and Zipping Classic (2400m) runner-up Big Orange.

Eptimum, who will be ridden by Lee Callaway, drew attention to his prospects in Rating 75 company following a last-start fourth at Ashburton in an open handicap.

“He was caught three and four wide and I’m very happy with him, he should be a good chance on Saturday,” Blackadder said. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
First Stakes Success For Zoustar’s Zaszou
Becoming the second stakes winner of the meeting for Widden Stud’s Zoustar, the Philip Stokes trained Zaszou captured the $160,000 Listed BRC Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m) in a photo finish.
Another Day, Another Stakes-Winner for Wootton Bassett
A homebred for Marc Chan, quality Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Green Impact closed out his juvenile season winning the Group II Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown and he bounced back into the winner’s list at the same venue overnight.
Kicked out of Australia - Jan Brueghel Wins G1 Coronation
The horse kicked out of Australia last spring as not having suitable scans to race in the Melbourne Cup, Jan Brueghel showed just what we missed out on seeing when taking out the Group I Betfred Coronation Cup (1m4f) at Epsom overnight.
Third Group 1 Victory For Zoustar’s Sensational Joliestar
Cambridge Stud's outstanding Zoustar mare Joliestar was simply sensational, charging late to win the $1m BRC Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm, her third Group 1 victory.
Sires With Winners - Friday June 6
Here is the full list of 31 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Capitalist Colt Records Back To Back Wins
Off the back of an explosive victory last time out at Hawkesbury when breaking his maiden by just shy of four lengths, Nathan Doyle’s Hidden Motive (Capitalist) justifiably jumped the short-priced favourite in the $160,000 Precise Air Handicap (1100m) at Randwick.
Bold Maison Louis Resolute In Queensland Derby
The training partnership of John O’Shea and Tom Charlton continues to flourish as evidenced by a stable quinella in Saturday’s Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) as Maison Louis defeated King Of Thunder in a perfect result for the Sydney trainers.
Group 1 Queensland Oaks For So You Think's You Wahng
With form around some of the best 3yo staying fillies in the country, the Kris Lees trained You Wahng was too strong, winning the $700,000 Group 1 BRC Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm.
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 7
Here is the full list of 123 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
North Pacific 2YO Ready to Win
Byerley Park trainer Steven Cole will head to Ellerslie with a quartet of runners on Saturday, and he is particularly upbeat about the chances of Pacific Breeze in the Network Visuals 1200.