Mighty Max Hits Dapto For ‘Six'

Proving age is no barrier, Takahi Max landed a 16^th race victory at Dapto on Thursday night – remarkably just three days shy of his sixth birthday.

Racing almost as the self-appointed flag-bearer of GRNSW's Masters program, catering for veteran gallopers to prolong their racing careers, Takahi Max returned to the winners list with a three-length 30.45 success for trainer Joe Bertinato on Thursday, the son of Collision's first victory since August, 2018.

"He's going grey, a bit like me, but he's got a heart as big as Phar Laps," declared a proud Bertinato on Friday.

"30.40 is about what he can run at Dapto these days and if he strikes the right race he's always competitive. I almost didn't back him on Thursday night but I was glad I did, I'll just keep looking out for the right masters grades for him and let him tell me when he's had enough, he just loves going to the races.

Proving nothing short of an old marvel for Dapto-based Bertinato, the ageless Takahi Max has amassed 49 placings to go along with his 16 race victories, his $52k in prizemoney earnings comprised from stints racing in Victoria and South Australia, along with New South Wales.

“We keep it pretty simple now, he just goes on the walker at home and if we can race every fortnight, I never trial him,” added Bertinato.

"He loves it here at home being in a small kennel, we treat them like kids. When he went to Melbourne he couldn't pick his feet up in his races but I just don't think he responded in the bigger kennel down there – it's not his go.

"It's his birthday on Monday so I'll get him an ice cream cake, there'll be a few pieces for him and maybe one for me as well."

To give Takahi Max's longevity some further context, just one of the remaining nine winners at Thursday's Dapto program were born when Takahi Max stepped out for his racetrack debut in 2014, the March 2013 whelp oddly taking 15 starts to claim his maiden success.

"He was running a lot of placings early on and then after he won his maiden he went bang, bang, bang," added the veteran Dapto trainer of Takahi Max, who has recorded a sizzling 29.56 at his home track of Dapto.

"There were a couple of dogs in Thursday night's race that were two years younger than him! I'd like to say we should divide them up by age but I doubt there's many others going around at six, he'd likely be racing himself."

While Bertinato is more than happy plugging along with his grand old campaigner, the industry stalwart has a litter of Banjo Boy's well on the way, set to be broken-in next month.

"There is eight of them, four dogs and four bitches, so there's a bit there to look forward to."