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NSW harness racing trainer Dean McDowell concedes he will ‘find the bottom’ of his talented juvenile trotter Maximus Meridius (Sebastian K) in next week’s Group 1 Breeders Crown (2YO Colts & Geldings) Final.
The McDowell trained son of Sebastian K continued to build on his picket fence form line when he scored his fifth consecutive win leading all the way in his Breeders Crown heat at Maryborough.
Young Sydney reinsman Lleyton Green was allowed to slow the tempo to little more than a dawdle, cruising through the first half of the last mile in 66.3 seconds before reeling off a 59.2 last half with Maximus Meridius ($1.75 fav) holding a two metre advantage on the line.
“Barrier one was a great advantage today but even so we were very happy with him as Lleyton really didn’t let him go until the last 100 metres and it took him half way up the back straight to pull him up,” McDowell said.
“And he ran some nice sectionals on the way home,” he said.
Maximus Meridius was having his first start since winning the Group 2 NSW Trot Final at Menangle in early July.
“We were going to come down the Edgar Tatlow but then decided to wait for the bigger money on offer in the Breeders Crown,” he said.
“But there were no races around for him so he has had four trials since then as we wanted to keep him ticking over and make sure his manners were still good,” he said.
McDowell said he was forced to make some gear changes after Maximus Meridius galloped out on debut in a heat of the 2YO Trotters Foundation at Menangle.
“We took the Dolly Vardens to let him see other horses and removed the head check as he was lunging at the mobile,” he said.
McDowell said Maximus Meridius was yet to be fully tested in a race.
“He has done everything to date under his own steam and got the job done,” he said.
“But there are some nice young trotters around and I’m tipping we’ll have to get the bottom of him in the Breeders Crown Final.”
For complete race results, click here.
by John Dunne, for Harnesslink
