Max Delight’s Italian Cup

Evergreen marvel veteran pacer Max Delight (Bettors Delight) added yet another feature to his impressive harness racing record with a courageous win in last night’s $30,600 Italian Cup at Menangle Park and in doing so ran a slick 1.49.6 seconds.

In a scintillating early pace Nyack and I Break the Line battled it out early before Don Lou was taken to the lead by his driver Seaton Grima. Max Delight couldn’t go with them early with his driver Josh Gallagher allowing him to stride up to Don Lou. 

Hot favourite Captains Knock didn’t show any of his customary brilliant speed and he was back at the rear of the field. After running fast early quarters in 26.9 and 28.7 seconds most didn’t expect the leaders to keep up such a pace. But running his last quarters in 27.4 and 26.7 seconds Max Delight belying his years got the upper hand from Don Lou and he was just too strong for Nyack and Don Lou. 

The only sour note was that winning driver Josh Gallagher was fined $400 for unacceptable use of the whip. 

Trainer David Aiken has the gelding racing better than ever and with 31 wins from 124 race starts Max Delight has now won just over $1.17 million for his connections. Even more remarkable is that Aiken has been able to bring the gelding back after he suffered an episode of atrial fibrillation in January of this year.

Although never looking likely to catch the frontrunners Captains Knock was doing his best work at the finish to finish just behind the place getters. 

MAX DELIGHT REPLAY

All of the lead finishers are entered for the Inter Dominion and given that Max Delight is racing in such rare form he has to be seriously considered as a major contender as he is so versatile in being able to perform in both sprint and staying races. And more importantly he thrives on hard racing and would be ideally suited to an Inter Dominion campaign. 

Three years ago Max Delight finished a close fourth behind Boncel Benjamin in the Inter Dominion at Menangle. Although it will be the usual classy field it would be a brave person to totally dismiss his chances for this year.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink