Long overdue win on the cards

Antony Fuller’s faith in Maximum Height has never waned and he’s hoping he can finally toast the veteran again at Tauranga on Thursday.

It has been over three years since the nine-year-old has won a race and since that win, at Te Aroha on April 6, 2013, he has had to settle for 15 placings.

Maximum Height has finished no further back than fourth in his last six starts and Fuller is hoping he can break his drought in the Vero Insurance 1400, especially with the aid of 3kg-claiming apprentice Zy Nor Azman.

“He’s been up for a long time and I can’t get him any fitter,” said the Tauranga trainer. “He’s dropped back to Rating 75 and he’s got a good weight advantage.

“Though he hasn’t won for a long time he’s run some good placings.”

Maximum Height won twice for Te Aroha trainer Scott Wenn before joining Fuller’s team and he thrived on the beach training, immediately winning five on end from his new quarters.

Fuller kept raising the bar and Maximum Height kept delivering, culminating in a nose defeat of the multiple Group One winner Silent Achiever in his open-class debut at Ellerslie in February 2013.

Between that win over Silent Achiever and his latest win two starts later he finished sixth in the Gr.2 Japan-NZ International Trophy at Tauranga.

Maximum Height’s efforts since his last win have included a close second to Postmans Daughter and a sixth to Viadana in the 2014 Japan –NZ International Trophy.

Three starts ago Maximum Height finished third behind Postboy and Sound Proposition at Ellerslie and he followed up with a fourth to Sound Proposition, again at Ellerslie. That form became more noteworthy when Sound Proposition won last Saturday’s Gr.1 Manco Easter Stakes.

Maximum Height was beaten less than half a length last start at Tauranga by Our King Sway over 1600 metres and, like his previous two races, that was in Rating 85 company, a grade higher than he encounters on Thursday.

Maximum Height’s toughest opposition could come from Persuasive, Light Shadow, All About Fun and Empress Elect.

Persuasive is from the Easter Stakes-winning stable of Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott and is on the verge of returning to her best form.She looked good winning a double last October and has been running her 1400-metre races out strongly.

Light Shadow was impressive when crediting Catherine Cameron with her first training success at Tauranga last start, while All About Fun registered his sixth win at Rotorua earlier this month.

Empress Elect will appreciate the huge drop in class after contesting the Gr.1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes last start