Is fifth time a charm for Max?

CONNECTIONS of veteran pacer Max Delight are hoping for a case of ‘fifth time is a charm’ this weekend.

A regular Miracle Mile aspirant, the 10-year-old will make another attempt to qualify for the $1million feature via the Bioworma Sprint at Club Menangle on Saturday night.

As you can guess, it is the fifth time trainer David Aiken has searched for glory in the Grand Circuit event with the son of Bettors Delight.

The Miracle Mile is scheduled to be conducted at Club Menangle on March 14.

A Group One winner at the world class venue, Max Delight contested the qualifying races in 2021, ’22, ’24 and ’25.

The gelding missed the mark during the first three years before finishing fifth in last season’s Miracle Mile as Don Hugo raced to glory.

Aiken, however, is no stranger to securing Australasia’s premier sprint, having scored with Lennytheshark in 2017.

“Old Max is going well enough to give him another shot,” Aiken said. “You’ve got to keep trying…there is no point not throwing your hat in the ring.

“This is his fifth try, so he’s been trying to win it for half his life!

“The Miracle Mile has always been one of my favourite races. It and the Inter Dominion are the two races for me.

“I remember when I was a kid they’d turn the lights off and the horses would be introduced one at a time under spotlight as they walked on to the track.

“That excitement and anticipation got me hooked on the race.”

To be driven by Will Rixon, Max Delight has drawn to settle in a prominent position from barrier four.

Although racing in his customary consistent fashion, Max Delight is a $41 TAB Fixed Odds outsider, such is the depth of the field.

“He will be competitive again,” Aiken said. “He’s drawn ok, so we’ll roll the dice and see how it works out for him.

“The qualifying races are very strong this year, so you can only imagine how tough the Miracle Mile will be next week.”