Champion trainer close to milestone

Campaigning his star veteran Max Delight in Western Australia, Aiken trained the gelding to capture last Friday night’s The Nullarbor at Gloucester Park.

With New South Wales reinsman Will Rixon in the cart, Max Delight enjoyed the perfect one-one trip before scoring in 1:54.9 over 2536 metres as Golden Lode and Magnificent Storm filled the placings.

It’s not the first time Aiken has won a major on the opposite side of the country, having secured the 2015 Inter Dominion at Gloucester Park with Lennytheshark.

“I might have to move to Western Australia,” Aiken joked. “Or at the very least come here more often.

“Prizemoney-wise, my two biggest wins have been in WA. Lenny’s Inter Dominion Final was $1.3million and now Max has won a $1.25million race.

“Having Max win was unreal, we couldn’t be more excited.

“He won the Group One New South Wales Derby at Club Menangle as a three-year-old and he’s still winning Group Ones as a 10-year-old!”

As for his pending personal milestone, Aiken is aiming for his 2600th training victory since records went digital.

Rarely in the sulky in recent years, Aiken also has 1433 wins as a driver.

Triumphant in 34 Group Ones as a trainer, Aiken’s stable has bankrolled almost $27million since registering his maiden success with Pleasant Trick in Hawkesbury in 1978.

“Geez, Pleasant Trick, that was a long time ago,” Aiken said. “When you put it down on paper like that, it seems like an eternity.

“They raced right-handed at Hawkesbury , but it was a terrific track.

“That’s 43 years ago and back then I was ecstatic about winning a race anywhere, let alone something like a Group One.”

Although he has two runners this afternoon, Aiken only has one chance of reaching 2600 as the duo are in the same race!

French Bubbles and Our Angels Envy will take on eight rivals over 1609 metres, with the former drawn best in barrier two.

Rixon is listed to partner Our Angels Envy from gate seven.

Our Angels Envy scored first-up from a break on March 31 when covering the mile in 1:53.8 around the world class circuit before a solid fourth a fortnight ago.

French Bubbles, which will be driven by Bailey McDonough, was third against slightly tougher company last week.

“They are both handy and can win with the right run,” Aiken said. “French Bubbles is down in grade to a degree and has drawn well.

“I’d lean towards her more in this one.

“That’s not to say Our Angels Envy can’t win, but the draw makes it tougher on her.

“Hopefully one of them can get up and I’ll hit 2600 on the current score board the way it is.”

Although drawn the widest in barrier 10, Bettorleftalone is considered the one to beat.

A member of the powerful Jason Grimson stable, Bettorleftalone was success in Penrith a fortnight ago, rating 1:54.9 over 1720 metres.

“Anything from Jason’s stable is hard to beat,” Aiken said. “So Bettorleftalone is certainly the danger in this.”