The deep south will be well-represented in this year’s TAB Southern Alps Challenge (1600m), with Maximus Augustus (NZ) (War Decree) one of three Ascot Park gallopers in the $350,000 feature at Riccarton Park on Saturday.
A five-year-old by War Decree, Maximus Augustus earned his place in the innovation race when taking out the $200,000 ODT Southern Mile Final (1600m) at Wingatui last month.
His breeder, part-owner and trainer Bill McNamara elected to bring the gelding to Riccarton in-between times, where he finished a meritorious fourth in open company behind Conor O’Ceirin (NZ) (Dial A Prayer).
“We were really pleased with how he went, it was just a lead-in race to make sure he was fit for the big day on Saturday,” McNamara said.
“We’ve done more of the same with him, we gave him a breeze-up on Saturday and he gets a canter around the track a couple of times. It’s all just to keep him happy and fit.”
McNamara will get back on the road on Wednesday with an eight-hour journey to Christchurch ahead of him, with stablemate Gentle Ben (NZ) (Mongolian Falcon) likely to join Maximus Augustus at the Riccarton meeting.
“We’ll be leaving on Wednesday and stopping in Timaru for the night, then to Riccarton on Thursday,” he said. “I’ll get someone to give them a canter on Friday morning and we’ll be ready to go.
“I’m hoping to get a start for Gentle Ben there as well.”
The Robert Dennis-trained pairing of Loftys Gift (NZ) (Ghibellines) and The Cluster (NZ) (Ghibellines) complete the trio from Invercargill, a strong representation that has generated plenty of interest in the race which was won by Matscot (NZ) (Haradasun)in its inaugural edition.
“It’s great, it’s a lot of money and it creates a lot of interest,” McNamara said. “It’s all the talk around Ascot Park at the moment because there are three horses getting a start.
“It’s great to have that sort of money in the South Island.”
