Gemtree Maximus ready to fire in SA Derby
Experience, class and X-Factor is what can be said about Gemtree Maximus, as he heads into the SA Derby heats this Thursday night. The stunning looking brindle dog has had an introduction to racing that many would dream of, having won 14 races from his 24 starts, including winning the SA launching pad. He is a dog that has always showed his ability, with his early trials showing trainer Paul Rehmann that he was a potential group dog, “His first ever box trial at Murray Bridge he went 22.60 over the 395m and I knew then he was good, whatever they do in their first trial they generally improve about 7 tenths.”
“The first trial at Angle Park (old) he went 4.48-17.01 and I just thought far out! I think I said to Vaughn Gray that I reckon I've got a group dog.” During his first preparation, Gemtree Maximus (Kennel name - Django) was able to show his sheer speed and brilliance, with sectionals equivalent to the top dogs, but struggled a little bit in the run home. “He’s not a naturally strong dog, you have to get him super fit to run a good 500.” In the middle of his campaign, Django cracked a hock during his routine galloping work at Murray Bridge “He did it at the slipping track, when he came out and I washed his feet, he lifted his foot up and I knew straight away.” We took him straight to Greg Moore to get looked at, Greg felt it was stable enough to avoid an operation. From there it was just rest and some laser work at home to get him right. He had 6 weeks off.”
Django made his return in the heat of the Gawler Produce, for which Paul felt came just a bit too soon, “He ran 3.11-15.73 first up which is just ridiculous, he just didn’t have enough racing and trialling going into it. I really wish the produce was on now!” Since coming back from the Hock injury, Django has gotten better and better, tackling and beating open grade dogs on the city circuit, whilst still running very fast times. This Thursday will feel like a different world as he comes back to age restricted company. Amazingly, he was born on the same day of the cut off eligibility for this race. “Their will probably be a lot of skeptical people when they see that but it is 100% legit! It was about 2am in the morning and he was the first one born.”
Whilst it will be his first start at the new Angle Park track, he did trial in fast time last week at the new circuit “I was a bit worried during the trial last week, he only went 5.32 -17.79 to the back and I thought he will only come home in 13.00, but then the clock stopped at 30.48 and I thought, did I bring the wrong dog?!” Following that trial, He went to Murray Bridge on Friday for a tune up race over the 395m, but stopped suddenly before the line when the lure shot away. “Friday was not a true reflection of him, he has had issues in the catching pen there before. He satisfactory trialled at Gawler on Sunday and went 22.70 which was BON, and he has pulled up brilliantly.”
The box draw hasn’t been kind for Thursday night, with Gemtree Maximus drawing box 8. “The only thing that worries me is the wide draw on the new track, it is very difficult. All I care about is qualifying and barring him getting flattened then he should, he only needs to begin on terms and he should get across. The field isn’t as strong as the dogs that he has been racing against. I would love for him to run a time to get into the match race series.” In terms of fitness, Paul thinks that Gemtree Maximus is at 100%, “He’s fitter than he has ever been, I don’t believe I could get him any fitter than he is right now! The past week hasn’t been an ideal lead up but even after the work, he is brilliant today.”
It is very exciting to have the star chaser back on the track and racing well. Hopefully he can add the SA Derby to his CV, before potentially tackling the Match Race series and Adelaide Cup.
