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Two months after taking a pasting in Korea, Polytrack lover Maximus showed he had not left his ability buried into Seoul’s deep sand after he posted a brilliant first-up win at Kranji on Friday night.
The US-bred five-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid did what he could against Japan’s superior sand performer London Town, but still plodded away a long gap of 27 lengths adrift in the Group 1 Keeneland Korea Cup (1800m) back in September.
Trainer Alwin Tan, apprentice jockey Troy See and connections, the IB Racing Stable were naturally disappointed with the run, but found solace in the fact that the hardy chestnut had pulled up without a scratch.
Tan gave Maximus plenty of time to get over his Korean flop - which might have well been dubbed ‘K-flop’ - hopeful not much sand had been left in the gears.
He could not have hoped for a better return back on home soil.
Relaunched in the $125,000 Trudeau 2013 Stakes, a Kranji Stakes A Division 2 race over 1100m, Maximus with regular partner See up, came from a midfield berth out wide to be within striking distance upon straightening up.
Pacesetter Sebas (Barend Vorster) was gobbled up quickly, with Constant Justice (Glen Boss), Kratos (Saifudin Ismail) and Autumn Rush (Simon Kok Wei Hoong) stepping up to the plate next.
But they were no match when Maximus came attacking the line at the 200m. It almost felt like Maximus had never been away as he again grew that extra leg on the all-weather to assert his superiority.
Golden Sword (Ben Thompson) landed from the clouds, but it proved too late to topple Maximus who fended him off by half-a-length. Marine Treasure (Olivier Placais) ran on for third another 1 ½ lengths away.
Starting at lukewarm odds of $61, Maximus clocked a smart 1min 4.96secs for the 1100m on Polytrack.
Favourite Skywalk (Michael Rodd, $15) ambled along in a cosy spot in fifth on the fence, snuck up ominously in the straight, but suddenly shortened up to eventually beat two home.
“He had a good break after he came back from Korea. He ran a nice trial two weeks ago and that topped him off just nice,” said Tan.
“Troy knows this horse inside out and rode him very well again. The fast pace suited him and we all know he loves the Polytrack.
“I’ve kept the blinkers which he wore for the first time in Korea. He was over a short distance, and I wanted to keep him on the pace.
“To be honest, I didn’t have much confidence he would win tonight even if he was in a good shape. I thought he would need the run.
“For his next race, I will put him back over a longer distance, probably the mile.”
See has been an unabashed fan of Maximus from Day 1. The current leading apprentice jockey has partnered him at 14 of his 17 starts for all his seven wins, all coming on the Polytrack.
“He got hammered in Korea, but he has bounced back like a real champion tonight,” said See who is almost home and hosed in the Singapore apprentice jockey’s premiership having now established a healthy buffer of nine wins on defending champion Wong Chin Chuen (29 winners versus 20).
“I couldn’t change the surface in Korea, but it was still fun for all of us.”
When asked to compare the sand at the Seoul racecourse and the Polytrack at Kranji, See did not fail to show his tongue-in-cheek side.
“It’s like the beach at Sentosa – but without the drinks and the women,” he said.
“I’m glad he won tonight as he was drawn awkwardly. We were four wide, but once I asked the question, he responded very well.
“The first time I rode him in trackwork, I was not too impressed, but Alwin put him in a trial and that fixed him.
“I’m very thankful to have such loyal owners who have always stuck with me.”
With roughly another $65,000 from Friday’s win added to the bank, Maximus has now reaped more than $365,000 in stakes earnings for the IB Racing Stable.
