Max back on track after hoof issue

Harness racing trainer David Aiken says he is pleased with how Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup aspirant Max Delight is tracking as he bounces back from a foot issue that saw him scratched out of Saturday night’s Bendigo meeting.

The five-year-old was taken out of the Smoken Up Sprint due to an abscess, but Aiken said the problem had quickly resolved itself and that the horse had worked well this morning in the lead-up to the weekend’s $300,000 feature.

Max Delight, a last start fourth place-getter in the Group 1 VHRC Caduceus Classic, has drawn barrier two and is rated a $23 chance with the TAB.

“In the (Saturday) morning he wasn’t too bad, but as the day got on it got worse. Early in the morning, I thought he was running and then at 3pm we sort of gave up,” Aiken said of Max Delight.

“It wasn’t in the right interests for the horse, the race or anyone…

“Sometimes, as we know with Lochinvar Art, abscesses can linger on for a long time, but we probably got onto it pretty quick so we’re very lucky.”

Aiken said he was happy and relieved after seeing how the horse performed in his work this morning.

“It’s just a shame. I thought if he could cross them the other night, it looked his race really. But these things happen,” he said.

“We’ve got a horse for this week, which is the important thing.”

Chris Alford will take the drive of Max Delight in the Victoria Cup, a race Aiken has won twice with Lennytheshark.

To view the fields for Bendigo on Saturday night click here.

By Tim O’Connor for HRV