A $5000 buy at the Australian Pacing Gold Melbourne sale in 2020 has helped break a long training drought for veteran hobby horseman Des Mahar.
Auckland Reactor gelding Royal Saxon claimed a photo finish victory in the Matthew Petroleum 3YO Maiden Pace at Hamilton on Monday to give the 75-year-old his first success in nearly a decade.
Mahar’s last winner was back in November of 2012 when Absolutely Awesome got home at Bray Raceway for driver Jodi Quinlan.
The Ballarat-based Mahar, who races the horse with his wife Frances, said the son of Sappheiros had been working impressively on the training track alongside seasoned campaigners Delwyns Son and Monsieur Delacour.
“He’s been working really good, but he’s got no early speed or anything like that,” Mahar said.
“I thought one day he was going to come good and he’s worked as good as any horse I’ve had for years and years.
“But he’s been hard to get right.”
Connor Clarke’s victory with Royal Saxon was the first leg of a double for the 18-year-old, who has piloted 18 winners since the start of March.
Royal Saxon now has one win and two placings from seven career runs.
