Here today visiting Maxmillion Farm who has kindly agreed to be interviewed by the SRF. Thank you Max for allowing me to visit your base farm.

Max It’s a pleasure and a honour to be here, getting to know you better and have a good look around your stable.

I understand you are retired (nice!). How long have you been retired for?

• 4 Years

Being retired do you find that help you focus on the game more?

Yes I have plenty of free time to pursue my digital insanity…lol

Curious Max. Understand you like Baseball, Basketball, Football, but what got you into Horse Racing initially?

I was born and raised into horse racing. Spent my youth at Santa Anita, Hollywood Park, Del Mar and Fairplex…. (Pomona Fair)…my favorite…

Can you actually ride a horse?

Yes I can ride a horse.  Although it’s been quite a few years….

Lol all good wanted to check. Probably better to leave it to the pros.

So Max. Great performance last year! A number of fellow trainers said you should have won trainer of the year award (You got my vote!).

Q:   Did you ever imagine at the start of the year you would have finished so strong?

Thank you, I had a lot of fun last year and a lot of things go the right way..:) I thought I had some pretty good horses going into the year, but one thing for sure is you have to keep looking out for the next good horse…

One of the key reasons I wanted to focus the limelight on your stable this week is I notice your strategy is a lot different than most on here. It’s good to get a more rounded feel for the game looking at players’ different styles and approaches. Last week we ran a stable interview with Smokey Stover who was very much focused on his breeding program and the development of his homebred. With yourself Max I notice you are very different.

As a preference you seem to purchase a lot of your runners rather than breed, also your top 5 earners are outsourced.

What made you decide to go that route/ direction please?

I found that trying to breed your own horses is a daunting and expensive task. I try to look for horses that I think have some upside in development and relativelylow risk versus reward..I’ve been pretty fortunate that some of my less expensive purchases have worked out. Fortunate I am not so sure, skill more likely. Certainly got a keen eye for a bargain and can spot a good horse cheap!

What tip would you give to new stables when looking for a bargain? Any pointers would be appreciated.

For the newer stables I always suggest they claim or buy some older successful horses that have earned at least a few hundred dollars and study the works very closely during times of it’s career… This will give you a basic guide as to where the horse fits class wise and what type of track they might be able to compete at….Study the differences between the grass works and the dirt works…another indicator of what surface they prefer..

Makes good sense and nice tip! Thank you Max.

Got your finger on the pulse, I for one am sure. Can you name 3 decent Sires who you extra keep an eye out for the foals?

If I tell you that……..I’ll have to kill you….lol…..

Ouch! OK let’s move on!

In your opinion 3 stables who constantly sell reasonably priced horses and worth keeping an extra eye out for he offerings?

Me….I hardly sell any horses because I think too highly of most of them…..lol

Your a hard man to crack Max! Throw me a lifeline, trying to get the inside scoop for the SRF here.

Ok let’s have some fun 🙂 Who is the worst stable for overpricing in your opinion?

‘El Primero Rodeo’

Ok that wasn’t funny! Errrm moving on.

I was looking at Combat Wombat earlier, lovely horse! You purchased for only $20 (great buy). Did you ever think when you bid on that horse in the auction it would be that good?

When I bought Combat Wombat, I had no idea he would turn out like this….He had a conformation that I like and I just gave him time to develop and it worked out ok..

Favorite horse all time at HRP and why?

Favorite horse Basic Force…. my first Graded Stakes winner was a track record holder on bold dirt and grass and could have been one of the all time best had he not been programmed to be sent to an early grave….

You have racked up over 100 Graded Stakes wins since 2007 congratulations. Subject of GS wins and Basic Force. I Understand you celebrated for a few weeks and nearly drank the town out of beer! There was some controversial media pictures and press reports. Can you clear the rumor once and for all!

Is it true you hit the town parting June 20th till 5th August, spent all prize winnings and the wife nearly left you?!

Let’s put it this way….the pictures were faked… Smokey Stover has advised me to say ‘no comment”.

OK we will leave it there. Q. Looking at your win ratios this morning over breakfast.

2016 19.3

2017 20.0

2018 21.5

2019 26.2

Know 2 year olds lower win % historically; however do you think you can finish the year on 25% win ratio or greater?

I always try to place my horses where I think they can compete….25% I think as attainable.

Nice and bold words Sir, I like it. I will watch your stats with interest.

What’s your best tip for novice trainers?

My tip for novice trainers…..Go slow and learn the game before you dive in deep.

Too many new player come in and throw money at the game thinking they should win…..It doesn’t work that way…

Good point. Cheers.

Prediction top 3 trainers year?

Top three trainers….what do you consider top?… Money won?…Graded Stakes Won?

I guess my best answer is that there are as many as 30 Stables that can achieve that goal and the players on the game right now are the best ever.

OK tough guy 🙂 Graded Stakes Wins then?

I think that (Dan) Mb will always be at the top. (Rich) Estero will be up there (Dom) Djc, Smokey. and I hope to be able to get there myself again….But that’s a tall task….

Prediction top 3 breeders?

Top 3 Breeders…Mb, Smokey, Team7….these are the guys that are most committed to breeding.

Great to hear what experienced players like yourself feel development wise could be improved within our game. This is a great opportunity and platform to share your views.

What aspect do you think needs a revamp please Max?

I’m not a fan of Q4 breeding. It ties up funds that could be used for racing for too long. I think if they are going to stick with Q4 breeding which it appears they will, they should start the 2 year old racing on Feb 1…or Maybe even Jan1…..it would keep a better cash flow to the game and make for better racing.

But the most important thing that needs to be addressed it their poor race schedule writing…..It’s a real disservice to us. The whole system needs to be revamped.

Sounds valid point Max. Support if you reading, take note.

Checking your stats  and noticed 6874 races and only one at the free track! You certainly dived in the deep end. What happened? Rather unique stat.

That was a charity race.

Ahh kudos for supporting that event. However back to the subject of the Free Track.

How come you seem to avoid racing there?

Yeah, I don’t support the free track…..I think it hurts pay racing because there are horses after horse that are running there that could fill entries at the pay track…….

I believe it should be for new players of 6 months or less.

What’s your assessment of Combat Wombat, good horse or great horse?

Very good. Not great. We will season the season he has this year….hopefully we can upgrade him to excellent….

Will we see TC winner @ HRP. Do you think it’s possible or impossible?

Never will happen…..The horses are too close together and when Five Fives was beaten It appeared to be divine intervention……that’s how I’ll describe that situation……..

Ever been called a pessimist :)?

Pessimist….yes….but I try hard every day to be optimistic.

Fair enough. Is there a stable you hope to avoid not in your race when you check the draw? Do you fear another stable right now?

I fear only that I entered a horse that’s not a fit……there are quite a few stables I prefer not to see……but they are obvious.

He whose name should not be spoken, I like it Max.

OK so who is an upcoming trainer in your mind and one to watch out for in 2019?

GDP

Lastly before I leave you in peace. You said you loved Baseball. Come on then. Who is going to win the World Series do you think?

The Dodgers

Nice prediction! Like to thank you again for allowing me to visit and get to know the man behind the name, a little bit better. Max I wish you the very best of luck this season!

Back on the bike tomorrow; driving over to NJ to horse profile a very special horse. Pretty Ferro. Winner of the prestigious 3 Year Old Colt – Horse Of The Year Award.

Stay Tuned!

El Primero Rodeo

Categories: SRF Interviews