Max Delight continues to surprise with outstanding FFA success

The old marvel Max Delight (Bettors Delight) upstaged his more fancied rivals when he gained an inside run to take out the Always Alcott Free For All at Menangle Park last night.

The race was considered by harness racing experts to be a match race between Inter Dominion winner Don Hugo and his talented five year old rival Captains Knock and they had a great tussle for favouritism.

Will Rixon on Max Delight worked his way to the front early over Doug’s Platter but then allowed Captains Knock to take up the running.

Don Hugo had been eased back to the rear and driver Luke McCarthy seeing that Captains Knock was in the lead allowed his charge to gradually move around the field to eventually sit outside the leader.

Near the final bend Don Hugo started to pressure Captains Knock who shifted slightly under pressure allowing Max Delight a charmed inside run.

Don Hugo was hanging in under pressure and showing by the far the greater momentum Max Delight raced clear to score by two and a half metres from Captains Knock with Don Hugo a further five metres away third.

The winning mile rate for the 2300 metres was 1.52.2 and showed the wisdom of driver Will Rixon to have the final sit from behind the leader. In the circumstances Don Hugo was not disgraced and would not have harmed his Hunter Cup chances.

MAX DELIGHT JAN 25 REPLAY

However notwithstanding his ability and improvement over the last six months it’s obvious that he can’t afford to race wide in the very best of company and be expected to win with such fast sectional times.

On the other hand Max Delight thrives on getting a trail in his races and in a race like the Hunter Cup he could very well be the fresh horse on the scene if he is close enough.

Max Delight has now on 31 occasions from 128 appearances and is getting close to $1.25 million in prizemoney. His trainer David Aitken is sure to have him primed up for the Hunter Cup.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink