Max Delight shows his younger rivals with winning burst

Veteran pacer Max Delight (Bettors Delight) showed that he will be a force in whatever feature races he contests following his gritty harness racing win in the Cordina Group Free For All at Menangle on Saturday evening.

Perfectly driven by Will Rixon, Max Delight from his barrier 7, angled to get the charmed one out and one back trail. Hi Manameisjeff backed into favouritism displayed his usual electrical early speed to go to the front with Ripp taking the trail behind the leader.

Kingman who was resuming broke soon after the start but didn’t lose a lot of ground and settled back to the rear of the field.

MAX DELIGHT 19 SEP REPLAY

Jye Coney on Hi Manameisjeff tried to settle the pace after they ran a hectic first quarter in 26.6 seconds. Coney stepped on the gas in the third quarter in 27.7 seconds and it was obvious that the winner would be in that leading pack with such a fast pace.

Max Delight pulled on straightening and he always seemed to have the measure of Hi Manameisjeff. David Aiken had a training quinella with outsider Dessie Gee who edged ahead of Hi Manameisjeff a battling third.

Kingman finished eighth but given the sectionals it would have been impossible for him to make up much ground from the rear and out wide on the final bend.

David Aiken now needs to decide whether Max Delight will have another attempt in the Group 1 Victoria Cup at Melton on 17 October, a race that he won five years ago. But he also has the option of competing in the country cup series either in New South Wales or Victoria. The ten year old still has the knack of making his presence felt in the big races and Aiken will no doubt plan a suitable program for the veteran.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Tony Milanese for Harnesslink