By MATT NICHOLLS
YO COOL Maxie turned back the clock with a devastating victory in the Armidale Sprinters Cup on Saturday.
The veteran greyhound improved five lengths on his heat placing to lead all of the way in the 520-metre event for trainer Barry Evans and his wife Roz.
From box three, Yo Cool Maxie was first away and never looked like being headed as he stopped the clock in a slick time of 30.19 seconds – an exceptional time considering he was running on a damp track.
“He is a brilliant old dog that never stops trying,” Roz said.
“We did a lot of work with him after that heat because that was his first time over 520m in a long time.”
Bookmaker Barry Mitchell kept Yo Cool Maxie safe in the betting ring, with the fast beginner from Bendemeer rated a $3.50 chance before they jumped.
Short-priced favourite Cauthen was rumoured to be carrying an injury throughout the week and put in a below-par performance from box one to finish third.
Splitting the winner and Cauthen was Easy Drinking, who had a tough time chasing down Yo Cool Maxie.
Three weeks before the race, Yo Cool Maxie broke the 365m track record at Armidale, while he also holds a record at Gunnedah.
“He has always been a sound dog and the whole litter are brilliant out of the box,” Roz said.
Between him and his five brothers, they have won more than 20 Wentworth Park races and close to $200,000 in prizemoney.
Retirement is far away for Yo Cool Maxie, who is now a “week to week” proposition.
In the other feature races on the card, Lunatic Bob won the McDonald’s Maiden Final (365m), before Barry Hobson’s Chanson made it six in row in the Mitchell Family Sprint (440m).
