Tongues out - tongues wagging

In the aptly named Master Blaster Mobile Pace at Ascot Park today, Cruise Maguire (Always B Miki) had his opposition gasping for air a long way from home. And when the winning time of 2-37.0 was posted, those on course and the gelding’s trainer Alister Black were staggered.

“I’m dumbfounded. That time is unreal. He just didn’t look like he was doing it,” Black said after the run.

Driver Brad Williamson took the super talented pacer to the front from barrier five and he was never out of second gear, going down to the line to win by five and three quarter lengths from Franco Newark (2-38.1) with a further five and three quarter lengths back to He’s Robyn.

CRUISE MAGUIRE REPLAY

“Six weeks out has been the making of him. He’s an immature horse who I thought was six months away, but he might be only a couple of months away.”

The winning time was a new track record lowering Five Crowns record of 2-38.2 set in 2025 when he won the G2 Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes. The time also bettered the open record of 2-38.0 held by Deny Everything. It’s the first time 2-38.0 has been broken in Southland by any horse.

The New Zealand record for three year old pacers of 2-36.1 is held by Ultimate Machete.

“He’s concentrating a lot more on what he’s doing now. Brad said after the line Blair (Franco Newark) got up to him and he went to take off again. So that’s a good sign.”

Cruise Maguire is the best horse Black has had in a number of years.

“I think he’s a bit like Vintage Cheddar who was my best ever horse. Captain Tom was a pretty close second. He (Cruise Maguire) and Captain Tom would be just about the same at the minute. He’s probably not as tough as Vintage Cheddar but he’s got the speed of Captain Tom.”

Vintage Cheddar won eleven races for Black, including the 2020 Junior Free For All, while Captain Tom won five of fourteen starts.

Cruise Maguire was offered by Dave Heffernan at the 2024 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales but was passed in for $16,000. He was initially trained by Williamson who qualified him in January at Ascot Park.

He was then purchased by Elaine Carnie, a stable client of Black who raced Idealism with a group of other owners.

At this stage Black’s not sure when or where Cruise Maguire will line up next.

“We’ll just let the dust settle.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink