Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Outstanding young New South Wales reinsman Will Rixon has high hopes that history will repeat itself and that veteran pacer Max Delight will follow his Nullarbor slot race victory last week by winning the $300,000 Retravision Cup over the marathon 2936m journey at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
In 2024, Victorian pacer Catch A Wave followed his Nullarbor win with a splendid victory in the Fremantle Cup, and last year West Australian star Mister Smartee followed suit with dashing wins in both rich feature events.
The 25-year-old Rixon has an extra incentive for the ten-year-old Max Delight to win on Friday night, and that’s to make amends for his father Peter having the disappointment of training and driving Divisive when the six-year-old met with interference and locked wheels with another runner before finishing an unlucky second to Power Of Tara in the 2902m Fremantle Cup in January 2009, a week before Divisive turned for home in front and was beaten by a nose in the final stride by Mysta Magical Mach in the WA Pacing Cup.
Trainer David Aiken is delighted with the way Max Delight has pulled up after his strong-finishing win over Golden Lode and the pacemaker Magnificent Storm in the 2536m Nullarbor last Friday night.
“Number five is not a great draw, but Will will have a few options,” said Aiken. “The horse has pulled up really well after his win. He worked free-legged yesterday (Monday) and will have a hoppled run tomorrow.
“He loves the distance and has won over 2900m (scoring over 2887m at Young in December 2023).”
Max Delight finished fourth behind Boncel Benjamin in the Interdominion championship final over 3009m at Menangle in December 2021 and was fourth behind Leap To Fame in the 3157m Inters final at Albion Park in July 2025.
Astute trainer Ray Williams declared that Magnificent Storm had pulled up a treat and was poised for a powerful performance after drawing the prized No. 1 barrier in Friday night’s big race.
Nine-year-old Magnificent Storm began from barrier four in the 2536m Nullarbor and took the lead after 400m before being put under pressure for most of the way by the favourite Minstrel in the breeze. He finished a close-up third behind Max Delight and the fast-finishing Golden Lode.
“He had a jog this morning (Tuesday) and felt very good,” said Williams. “So, there will be no excuses. The long distance won’t worry him at all, and he won the Marathon over 3309 metres (in August 2021).
“There are no particular dangers for him this week. They are all dangers, but I don’t expect he will get the pressure like he did last week.”
Aiden De Campo, WA’s leading reinsman this season, agreed that the distance would not be a worry for Magnificent Storm. “I thought he was super last week when we had to run too hard a lead time which took it out of him late,” he explained.
Champion WA trainers Greg and Skye Bond hold a strong hand in Friday night’s race in which they will be represented by Minstrel (Deni Roberts; barrier eight), Golden Lode (inside of the back line; Kyle Symington), Justcallmemiki (barrier six; Jack Callaghan) and Gee Heza Sport (outside of the back line of three runners; Stuart McDonald).
“Barrier eight makes it tough for Minstrel,” said Greg Bond. “We will let Deni sort things out. Justcallmemiki was solid when sixth in the Nullarbor; and Golden Lode has a good draw, being on the fence over the long trip, but obviously he will have to get a (clear) run.
“We like running Gee Heza Sport with a trail, so this is an ideal draw for him. Normally, I would say that Minstrel is our best chance, but you might even lean towards Golden Lode, going on his effort last week.”
Visiting pacers Ubetcha Tigerpie, Bulletproof Boy and Triedtotellya cannot be underestimated and will have many admirers.
Ubetcha Tigerpie, who is awkwardly drawn out wide at barrier seven, pleased trainer-reinsman Mick Stanley with his effort in the Nullarbor when he raced in sixth position, one-out and two-back, and fought on strongly, out wide, to finish fourth. He appears certain to surge forward at the start in a bid to gain a prominent position.
Trainer Scott Ewen is confident his 11-year-old gelding Bulletproof Boy will improve dramatically on his ninth placing in the Nullarbor when he was restrained from out wide at barrier eight and raced at the rear. James Herbertson should be able to get him into a handy position in the one-wide line soon after the start.
Tasmanian trainer-reinsman Rohan Hillier will be looking for a good effort from noted stayer Triedtotellya, who boasts a wonderful record of 19 wins, four seconds and one third placing from 26 starts.