Gentleman Max wins the Cootamundra Cup at his fourth attempt

At his third start for Canberra trainer Keith Dryden, Gentleman Max ($3.40) recorded a career-first in winning the Cootamundra feature at his fourth attempt.

All 16 of his wins prior to Sunday had come on rain-affected tracks but the eight-year-old proved there is still plenty of life in his racing career yet with a dominant Cup victory.

Gentleman Max had finished ninth, seventh and fourth at his three previous Cootamundra Cup attempts but was aided by a top Blaike McDougall ride to finally clinch the time-honoured feature for connections, headed by Leona Watson.

Gentleman Max scored by one and three quarters lengths from Sensacova ($6.00), with $3.20 favourite Carluca finishing a further length back in third.

"He's a great old horse, he just keeps putting in," Dryden said.

"He's a nice horse, that's all you can say about him. He's a gentleman by nature, gentleman by name."

Gentleman Max was transferred to Dryden after the disqualification, pending appeal, of Wagga trainer Trevor Sutherland.

He had two runs at Canterbury, for a third and sixth, before returning to country grade at Cootamundra.

Dryden admitted Gentleman Max's work earlier in the week had filled him with confidence for the trip to Cootamundra.

"His runs have been really good, Jay gave him a great rap both times

"His work on Monday morning, I let him do a bit of work Monday morning and when I analysed it, I said he'd be hard to beat."

McDougall also took out the Twin Hills Stud Benchmark 66 Handicap (1100m) on the Jamie Stewart-trained Akeed ($6.50) in what proved to be a day for the visitors with little Southern District Racing Association (SDRA) success.

READ MORE