Trots Centre: Now's the time for Aiken's 4YO to Act

It’s all happened very quickly for Reactor Now and suddenly he’ll be front and centre as the spotlight on Victorian harness racing shines brighter than it has for seven months.

Drawn alongside stablemate and fellow four-year-old Malcolms Rhythm, many expect the David Aiken trained runner to be a key fixture in the tonight’s star-studded Vincent Standing @ Alabar Pace, which streams on Trots Vision at 7.03pm.

Victoria hasn’t seen a pacing field like this since the February 1 Del-Re National A. G. Hunter Cup, with Group 1 and country cup winners rubbing shoulders with Inter Dominion finalists, but it is Reactor Now who’s the x-factor amid the A graders.

While his only loss in his last 10 starts has been a retirement, Aiken told Paul Campbell that tonight would present a significant test of Reactor Now’s race night professionalism.

“He’s a lovely horse at home, he just gets a little bit competitive when he goes to the races, which he can’t be like that against these good horses,” Aiken told Campbells Comments.

“He’s got a lot of depth to him because he shouldn’t be able to do those things he does – do a few things wrong as far as pulling and keep going.

“He’s got a different bit and he’s been really good at home, so touch wood he will be good on Saturday night.”

Many expect Reactor Now to find the lead, though with speed outside him from Idealsomemagic and Hurricane Harley that’s no given.

Either way, Aiken said it would be quite the coming of age for the comparatively lightly raced Auckland Reactor gelding.

“He got to this class very quick, that’s his only downfall,” Aiken said. “Lochinvar Art, he’s raced in Miracle Miles and Chariots, so it’s going to be a big rise in class for (Reactor Now).

“He’ll measure up. He mightn’t be as good as them yet, this is virtually his second race prep. Before we got him he had four race starts, had a fairly big break and then he came to us.

“He’s in that class now where he can’t dodge them. We’ve just got to pick our races with him and hopefully keep him going, little break here and there, and get him ready for December.”

While most in this class are chasing a start in the October 10 Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup, it’s December’s Vicbred Super Series that’s front of mind for Aiken and Reactor Now, with the master trainer of the belief his four-year-old’s “still a baby”.

“He’s a great moving horse and for a four-year-old he’s a monster,” he said. “I haven’t had a bigger horse. He’s got a big gait to him, and when you drive him at home he’s very deceptive. You want to go a certain time, he’s always going a bit quicker.”

Tonight will also present a considerable test for Malcolms Rhythm, being his first start since running third (and relegating Lochinvar Art to fourth) in the 2019 Breeders Crown final.

“After he ran third in the Breeders Crown final last year he had a bit of a break and halfway through the break we found that he had a bit of a leg (injury), and we scanned it and he had a tear,” Aiken said.

“He’s had the rehab and had four trials back, first two were good where we looked after him, third one we went to Kilmore where he was very disappointing, and then he won his trial at Shep last week and went pretty good.

“It’s going to be a hot pace, it’s a very strong field, so we just hope he gets through his run and hits the line. He’s been out a long time. He’ll keep up, but he’s got a lot of improvement in him.”

All bodes well for an exciting stoush, with Lochinvar Art looming large and Aiken, like many in the industry, pleased just to see the leading pacers starting to share the same track.

“It’s a good time, there are all these horses that haven’t met. Everyone’s waiting for them to get together,” he said.

“It’s what you wait for all year – to watch these good horses go around. When they come together, that’s the exciting part.”

CLICK BELOW TO WATCH THE FULL CAMPBELLS COMMENTS INTERVIEW:

David Aiken ahead of a huge night at @bendigotrots https://t.co/2mjqxKTl4i

— Paul Campbellscomments.com (@vege07) September 17, 2020

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