Aiken on the chase to add to his honour roll

Avenel trainer David Aiken has tasted success in some of Australia’s biggest harness races.

An Inter Dominion Pacing Championship, a Miracle Mile and three Victoria Cups head the list.

However, there are two others in particular on the Victorian calendar he would love to add to his own honour roll – the Del-Re National A G Hunter Cup and What The Hill Great Southern Star.

Aiken has been close in each.

Jaccka Clive was beaten a half-head and neck in finishing third to Choise Achiever in the 2012 Hunter Cup and was a head second to Mah Sish a year later.

Then Lennytheshark had to settle for third to Bling It On in 2017 and fourth to Lazarus in 2018.

In the Great Southern Star, US-bred trotter My High Expectations twice finished third for Aiken – in 2013 and 2014.

Aiken is having another crack at the two rich Group 1s on the third and fourth nights of the TAB Summer of Glory carnival at Tabcorp Park Melton this week.

Aldebaran Crescent tackles the Great Southern Star on Friday, while Malcolms Rhythm and Max Delight will fly the stable flag in the Hunter Cup.

While he admits all three face big tasks, Aiken could not be happier with his runners – each having come through Inter Dominion campaigns in New South Wales during December in top shape.

Aldebaran Crescent is engaged in the second of two $50,000 Great Southern Star heats over 1720m, striving to qualify for the $300,000 final over the same trip later in the night.

Aiken is particularly excited to again have a starter in the feature under the original format of heats and final on the one card.

“I love it. I really enjoyed it in the early years. It was something different,” he said.

“I was disappointed they went away from it.”

The Great Southern Star had the heats and final on the same program for four years from 2013, with Aiken also campaigning the likes of Cold Sister and Spidergirl.

This is the Group 1’s second season back with the heats and final on the one night, and Aiken is looking forward to Aldebaran Crescent taking on the challenge.

“While she’s not one of the fancied runners, she’s coming off a strong year,” Aiken said.

The seven-year-old has drawn what most regard as the stronger of the heats, but Aiken is hopeful this will work in her favour.

The first three placegetters in each heat automatically qualify for the final, with the balance of the field to be based on gross times outside the top trios.

Aiken does not expect Aldebaran Crescent’s quick gate speed to come into play from barrier six, but he believes her ability to work into contention in races by following the pace might work in her favour.

He said Aldebaran Crescent had been unlucky to miss out on qualifying for the Inter Dominion final, with her last in the opening round of heats after suffering the thumps costing her valuable points.

With this issue resolved, the daughter of Majestic Son went on to finish fourth and fifth in her next heats, only to miss the final by one point.

This will be her first start since a third to Red Castleton in a free-for-all at Menangle on Inter Dominion grand final night (December 11).

Aiken said whatever she did, there was a big group of owners excited to be part of the race.

Aiken knows from experience how difficult winning a Hunter Cup is.

“I haven’t been able to crack it yet, but I’d love to win one,” he said.

Although Aiken has two runners, the barrier draw has made his task of getting that break-through victory in the time-honoured event all the harder.

Malcolms Rhythm and Max Delight will start from outside the second row in 12 and 13 respectively.

They had looked like starting four and five off the fence, but with emergency Supreme Dominator getting a run the duo has been pushed out further.

“I couldn’t believe it (the draw), but that’s the way it goes,” Aiken said.

“Each needed a (favourable) draw and unfortunately they didn’t get it.

“It makes it even harder when a lot of the favoured chances drew well.

“I can’t see anything from the back being able to take others into contention.

“That’s what we’re going to need. It’s going to be tough.”

Aiken describes Malcolms Rhythm as a real honest campaigner, as shown last season in a run of success in country cups before winning an Inter Dominion heat and then reaching the final.

This will be his first race start since, but Aiken was impressed with the way he performed at the Shepparton trials on January 25.

“I thought he went really well.”

Max Delight had his last serious hit-out before the Hunter Cup on Wednesday morning, with Aiken more than satisfied with him.

“I’m really happy with him.”

Aiken said Max Delight had no ill-effects from his tough run in the Ballarat Pacing Cup.

“He over-raced. It’s a little unusual for him, but he got fired up in the early efforts to find the lead and was out of control. He just ran out of petrol,” he said.

Aiken said he was initially a little concerned, but Max Delight had pulled up well and was okay the next morning.

He said he had bypassed the Casey Classic to avoid taking any risks before the Hunter Cup.

“We’ve got Sydney coming up too, so we want everything to be right,” he said.

Aiken said as tough as the Hunter Cup shaped up, he was not ruling out one of his charges getting the money.

“Stranger things have happened,” he said.

To view the fields for Melton on Friday click here.

To view the fields for Melton on Saturday click here.

By David Brehaut for HRV