Our Max Phactor Keeps Winning Streak Going
31 October, 2018
Harness
Art Major gelding Our Max Phactor has made it eight wins in a row to start his racing career in Australia, taking out the Choices Flooring Conditioned Handicap Pace (2503m) at Gloucester Park last night.
Our Max Phactor had his first start in Australia in September for Greg and Skye Bond after making the trip over from New Zealand.
Six of the gelding’s eight starts have been in standing starts, his last two he has come off a 30m start.
The six-year-old got away reasonably well and was able to find the front within the first 400m.
After the strong start, reinsman Ryan Warwick had a comfortable time in the lead with Our Max Phactor, who went on to win by 4m to Driven and Tanaka Eagle.
Meanwhile, Victorian Group 3 winner Think About Me gave trainer Gary Hall Snr a lift on what was a tough day for the stable.
Earlier in the day, Hall Snr was forced to withdraw Chicago Bull from the New Zealand Cup, after he suffered fractured bones in his back in a stable accident.
Chicago Bull had the stable accident on Saturday morning following his victory at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
The injury is likely to keep the reigning WA Harness Horse of the Year on the sidelines for at least six months.
Think About Me produced an encouraging first-up performance for the Hall stable, overcoming leading pair Shadow Maker and Kitura in the final 100m.
The four-year-old settled on the back of Kitura from barrier 10, before Stuart McDonald was able to push off the pegs into clear running room at the bell.
Chris Lewis scored a winning double on the program, driving Baptism Of Fire and Carte Blanche to victory.
Veteran pacer Baptism Of Fire recorded his first win since June 2016 in the Better Your Bet With TABtouch Pace (2130m).
Baptism Of Fire, a veteran of 171 starts, had gone more than 75 starts between wins prior to last night, relished the chance to start from barrier one for the first time in more than 35 starts.
Lewis was able to find the lead comfortably on the nine-year-old at the start, before he went on to score by 10m.
His second winner of the evening came in the Yes Loans Westbred Pace (2130m), as Carte Blanche also took advantage of barrier one to lead all the way.
Elsewhere, a full field of 12 will contest Friday night’s $50,000 James Brennan Memorial at Gloucester Park.
Tricky Styx has drawn barrier one for the feature event, while Tommy Be Good will be out for back-to-back feature race wins in the Group 2 event and has drawn barrier two.
Tim Walker