Josh Aiken is keeping an open mind but is determined to drive a positive race with Max Delight in Saturday night’s Alabar 4YO Bonanza.
Aiken is preparing for one of the highlights of the blockbuster Tabcorp Park Melton program and despite an awkward gate seven draw, is confident he has the horse good enough to take out the Group 1 feature.
The talented reinsman has jumped in the sulky in place of Todd McCarthy, who has decided to stay in Sydney for a solid book of drives at Menangle.
Aiken, who drives the horse for his trainer/father David, has many of his main dangers drawn inside, including warm favourite Self Assured, which heads to the race on the back of a slashing second in the PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup.
“It’s one of those situations where I don’t think you can go into it with a set plan in concrete,” Aiken said.
“Obviously I want to be pretty positive early and just give yourself plenty of options I suppose.
“And then after that it’s just probably a drive based on how the other horses come out of the gate and where they land early.
“Definitely just plan A is to be positive early, just to give yourself those options.”
Aiken said it would be “conceding defeat” to his rivals if he took the horse back after the green light over the 1720m trip.
“He’s got the talent, he’s had a really good preparation coming in to it and he’s coming off the back of an exceptional three-year-old season,” Aiken said.
“So he just needs a couple of things to go his way and it’s just one of those races – you’ve got quality horses in it.
“The draw didn’t go his way, but from now it’s just (needing) a couple of things to go his way early and he’s a live chance in that race for sure.”
A dual Group 1 winner in his three-year-old season, Max Delight claimed both the NSW Derby and Breeders Crown Series finals before a well-earned break.
He returned after more than four months away from the races with a narrow second to Kasbah Kid at Melton on January 10 and is looking for his 13th career success in this Saturday night’s $100,000 feature.
CLICK BELOW TO HEAR TIM O’CONNOR AND JOSH AIKEN TALK THE 4YO BONANZA:
