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21 Aug 2015

Mullins blows Lonsdale Cup apart with Max

Frankie Dettori punches the air aboard Max Dynamite when winning the Lonsdale Cup (picture via www.racingfotos.com)

Max Dynamite exploded onto the Flat staying scene with a commanding victory in the Lonsdale Cup at York on Friday under Frankie Dettori, leaving Mizzou trailing by four-and-a-half lengths back in second and Hidden Gold a further length back in third.

Big Orange took the 8-strong field along early, with Vent De Force tracking the pace in second, but the two pace forcers dropped away quickly as the field turned for home, leaving Max Dynamite to sweep past Mizzou and gallop clear in the closing stages to record an easy victory at an SP of 8/1.

Owner Rich Ricci bought Max Dynamite from France, where the pick of his runs included a well-beaten 8th behind Intello in the 2013 Prix Du Jockey Club for previous trainer J. Van Handenhove. Max Dynamite was sent hurdling for Willie Mullins, where his best efforts included a fourth in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and more recently a second in the Galway Hurdle behind Quick Jack.

Max Dynamite proved himself a smart dual-purpose performer when running second in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle behind Quest For More on his first Flat start for Willie Mullins, but his victory at the Knavesmire on Friday will be his best Flat performance on Timeform Ratings, having surpassed the 114 he achieved at Newcastle, and he is sure to be competitive in the remaining long distance contests this season as a result.

Frankie Dettori will become leading Jockey at the Ebor Meeting after riding Max Dynamite to victory, and he was keen to retain the ride, saying after the race: “Willie Mullins is a legend, the horse gave me a dream ride. Can I ride him in the Ascot Gold Cup next year?”

Owner Rich Ricci, whose colours are usually seen dominating races at the Cheltenham Festival, said: “Willie Mullins is a genius, it’s great to win a race here. The Melbourne Cup is the target now, Frankie got off and told me he’d win the [Ascot] Gold Cup next year, but we’ll see.”

Max Dynamite may well meet the likes of Trip To Paris again in Melbourne, who was amongst a number of other horses, including Goodwood Cup winner Big Orange, who finished down the field and did not seem to give their true running on the day.