Maximus Prime (NZ) (Echoes of Heaven) is a country boy at heart and, in that role, he will now be racing for a major pot of gold during the Melbourne spring carnival.
The Echoes Of Heaven gelding’s first success on Australian soil from Archie Alexander’s Ballarat stable over 1500m at Geelong has secured his place in the A$500,000 Country Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on Oaks Day on November 3.
The series comprises eight A$100,000 heats across Victorian tracks with Maximus Prime booking his spot with his first-up victory on Wednesday, much to the delight of his Rangiora part-owner and former trainer John Blackadder.
“It was a brilliant result and he’d had a couple of months off to freshen him right up and then spent eight weeks at the beach and was on the water walker for quite a while, he’s always gone pretty well fresh,” he said.
Blackadder prepared Maximus Prime to win four races before an unfortunate incident at Riccarton hastened his transfer to Victoria where Alexander’s location and complex was ideal for Maximus Prime.
“In the Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (Gr.2, 1600m) last year he bled, it was just a trickle really and not that serious,” Blackadder said.
“They seem to manage them better over there and we were always going to take him over anyway, he always had the ability.
“Archie has the facilities at Ballarat for paddock training, which is what I do at home and I didn’t want him in a box all day. That’s why we gave him to Archie.”
Pre-race reports ahead of Geelong had strongly suggested a bold showing from Maximus Prime, who had placed in three of his previous five starts for Alexander.
“Archie had been quite confident about the horse. We will definitely be going over to see him race in the final and then come back on the Friday before the (New Zealand) Cup meeting,” Blackadder said.
“Chris Rowe, who bred Maximus, and I own 50 percent of him and the other 50 percent are clients of Archie’s stable.”
On the home front, Blackadder’s immediate focus is on Saturday’s Riccarton meeting where he will be represented by two runners.
Juvenile In The Navy (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) will debut in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (800m) and Eptimum (Snitzel) will contest the NZB Ready to Run Sale Trainers Series Handicap (1200m).
One of a number of two-year-olds in the stable, In The Navy finished runner-up in an 800m trial on the course earlier this month in the hands of Rohan Mudhoo, who retains the ride.
“He has improved out of sight with the trial, he’s a nice horse,” Blackadder said.
“He’s quite relaxed and being out in the country environment he doesn’t get wound up. It’s a bit wait and see on Saturday because it’s hard to get a gauge on the other horses.
“He’s one of eight two-year-olds I’ve got at home and I’ve never had that many before so I’m looking forward to the future.”
In The Navy was purchased at Karaka by Blackadder for $25,000 from breeder Valachi Downs’ draft and is out of a half-sister to the Gr.1 Royal Ascot Gold Cup (3800m) winner and Zipping Classic (2400m) runner-up Big Orange.
Eptimum, who will be ridden by Lee Callaway, drew attention to his prospects in Rating 75 company following a last-start fourth at Ashburton in an open handicap.
“He was caught three and four wide and I’m very happy with him, he should be a good chance on Saturday,” Blackadder said.
