Maximal's aversion to wet tracks will dictate where he races next
John O’Shea is keeping a close watch on the weather before deciding whether Maximal will run in Sydney or Melbourne next weekend.
The son of Galileo has been plagued by rain-affected tracks since his arrival in Australia 12 months ago, but the times he has made it to the races and struck drier ground, he has produced outstanding performances.
Depending on which venue offers a firmer surface n Saturday, Maximal will either line up at Flemington in the Mackinnon Stakes (2000m), or head to Randwick for the Five Diamonds (1800m).
“We will probably make a decision on Wednesday,” O’Shea said.
“He is a drought breaker old Maximal. He has had a handful of runs on (genuine) good tracks in Australia in the 12 months he has been here, two of those have been Group 1 seconds.
“It is fair to say he is much better on top of the ground.”
Maximal made his Australian debut in last year’s Golden Eagle with a solid sixth to I’m Thunderstruck.
His Group 1 placings came behind Huetor in the Doomben Cup during the winter and Smokin’ Romans two starts ago in the Turnbull Stakes.
Scratched from the Caulfield Cup due to the heavy track, he was unable to avoid similar conditions at Moonee Valley last start in the Cox Plate and O’Shea thought his effort to finish within six lengths of Anamoe was commendable given his dislike for the surface.
“I thought he was outstanding. You could see he was there to run a race then when he had to gallop on heavy eight ground, he doesn’t like it,” he said.
Regardless of which city Maximal runs in on Saturday, O’Shea will have a presence at Flemington during Cup week with The Invitation winner Promise Of Success to contest the Group 3 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m), while Rocha Clock will make an appearance on the VRC Oaks undercard.
Promise Of Success was a late withdrawal from the corresponding Melbourne Cup day feature last year after pulling a plate and O’Shea hoped she could make amends on Tuesday.
