Deserved Stakes Winner Completes Double For Maxios

Wednesday saw Yaxeni (5m Maxios - Kithonia, by Sadler’s Wells) gain a deserved black-type success in the Listed Vintage Tipple Stakes at Gowran Park.

The Ger Lyons-trained mare ended last season with a valuable win in the November Handicap at Naas and came to Gowran with four black-type placings to her name. Sent off joint-favourite under Colin Keane, she made all the running in the mile and six furlong contest and was ridden out to score by a length and a quarter.

Speaking after the race, assistant trainer Shane Lyons said, “Yaxeni was kept in training to win her stakes races, as she was placed numerous times last year. We'll talk to the owners, but with the ground likely to dry up, she is likely to have a break and then come back for an autumn campaign.”

Yaxeni is owned by SBA Racing Limited and was bred by the Niarchos family.

Earlier that afternoon at Newton Abbot, talented hurdler Wild Max (7g Maxios - Wildfahrte, by Mark Of Esteem) recorded an impressive maiden chase success under Harry Cobden.

Paul Nicholls’ charge was sent off second favourite for the Novices’ Chase and raced prominently throughout the extended two mile contest. Asserting at the penultimate fence, he drew clear on the run-in, to leave runners-up honours to Grade 2 winning hurdler Hang In There (Yeats).

Bred by Gestut Brummerhof, Wild Max adds to four wins over hurdles for connections and two victories on the flat in his native Germany, where he was also Group 3 placed.