The castrated son of Gambler’s delight started well and was able to settle behind the leader, getting one at the top of the home straight to run past race favorite Celebrity Royal ($1.18), with 1.1 meters separating the pair. Keayang Fitzy ($31) was 8.9 meters away and third in a mile pace of 1:55.3 seconds.
Only his stablemate Magnetic Terror had set a faster time when he won the same race last year in 1:54.1s.
“He’s been knocking on the door since we had him, so it was good to have a nice journey and finally get a win with him,” said winning trainer-driver Conor Crook.
“Since Celebrity Royal was in second place after a long time, I wasn’t too sure about his gate speed since he was working his way up last week. So I was hoping I could get over it, but it was a lot better than me. I came after the leader, and it was the only one I had to beat, and I was able to get past it.”
Maebee started his career in Tasmania and then went to New South Wales before being bought and heading to Queensland where he had two starts before being bought by Crook.
Crook said the pacer will now head to Saturday night’s Devonport Cup in Launceston.
Maebee’s mile pace of 1:55.3 seconds was one of two sub-1:56.0 efforts on the day as the Emma Stewart-trained Enjoy Life ($1.18 favorite) recorded 1:55.9 seconds in the Barastoc Race N Win Pace (1670m).
The kilometer speed set a new three-year-old age record at the Carrick Park circuit, beating that of Ozzie Corka, who set a time of 1:57.7 as a three-year-old at the end of the season last month.
Two heats of the Westwood Quarry Trainers Incentive series were also on the programme, with the Paul Ashwood-trained Mcmayhem ($2.00 favourite) and Iamahunter ($10) for trainer-driver Jacob Duggan winning both heats.
The final will be held at the club’s next meeting on February 22, which will also include the Meander Valley Cup.
Through Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
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