Maximillion recorded his fourth win in eight starts when he downed a handy field in the Oamaru Cup on grass yesterday.
Maximillion began racing five months ago with a win at Addington.
He also won on the all-weather track at Oamaru for trainer-driver Gerard O'Reilly and owners Denis O'Reilly (brother of the trainer), Robert Haskett (brother-in-law of Denis), both of Ashburton, and Athol and Jenny Millar, of Broadfield.
O'Reilly took him over as an unbroken 2yr-old after breeding the son of Sands A Flyin with Rodney and Scott Dickson and Murray McLeod.
O'Reilly and McLeod had sold a half-brother to Maximillion, Scott McLeod, to Australia after winning first up with the Frugal Gourmet gelding at Motukarara in March 2000.
He was trained by Rodney Dickson.
The Millars were on the lookout for a horse to race after selling Badlands Chief to Australia early in 2007.
He won a race for them at Oamaru when trained by O'Reilly.
Scott McLeod and Maximillion are out of Idle Interest, a Smooth Fella mare who won a race at Greymouth in 1990 when trained by Dickson for the Grey Ash Ham syndicate including thoroughbred trainers Peter and Dawn Williams.
Idle Interest broke a bone in a leg after five starts and went to stud.
The Williams bred Scott McLeod before passing the mare to O'Reilly and the Dicksons and McLeod.
She has since died.
Day Of Reckoning is on the shortlist to accompany his star stablemate Stig to Auckland next month after his win yesterday.
"I will have to sit down and work it out but it is fairly likely I will take Stig to Auckland next month, especially if I could take a couple of others with him," trainer Paul Nairn said.
Stig is aiming at the Rowe Cup in May and a trip to Auckland would give him valuable experience.
Nairn said Day Of Reckoning and Red (winner of the West Coast bonus in December with wins at Westport (twice) and Reefton) are possibilities to travel with Stig next month.
• Sundons Gift returned the fastest time in the two semifinals of the Interdominion trotting series at Ballarat on Saturday night, NZPA reports.
Sundons Gift recorded a 2.02.1 mile rate for the 2710m (mobile) compared with a 2.04.4 rate by One Over Kenny in the other semifinal.
One Over Kenny won easily.
The $A250,000 final is at Moonee Valley next Saturday.
Mister Swinger won the Ballarat Cup in a 2.007. rate for the 2710m.
Mister Swinger won by half a neck from Mr Feelgood after locking wheels with Gotta Go Cullen in the straight.
