By Michael Guerin
Like everybody else Maurice McKendry is counting down to the big 2000 - except he is going to get there before we do.
Because while to most of us the big 2000 means a new millennium and a party, to champion reinsman McKendry it means a milestone he dared not dream of.
The Pukekohe driver is just two wins away from becoming the first of his profession to drive 2000 winners in New Zealand.
That number of wins by a New Zealander would have seemed impossible 25 years ago, when the man they called the maestro, Maurice Holmes, retired after a stunning career that totalled 1666 victories. And he was the real deal.
"I suppose when you put it like that 2000 is a lot of wins," said McKendry, who rates Holmes one of his boyhood heroes.
"But I think I have been able to get there because of the opportunities I have had, particularly in the last 10 years."
While such modesty is quaint what McKendry rarely admits is he has stayed at the top of the ladder even though he is not the regular No 1 driver for any major stable.
Many of his wins have been hard won, thanks to a lot of trials driving travelling, often to the low-profit Central Districts circuit.
But while there have been plenty of small fish McKendry has also caught the biggest of them all - winning the World Drivers' Championship in 1991, his last-gasp success fittingly coming at Alexandra Park.
And among the 1998 winners there have been a galaxy of stars.
"David Moss was the best trotter, no doubt about that," confirms McKendry.
"And there have been some great pacers. I drove Chokin early in his career and he was something. And I remember having a drive on Bonnie's Chance when I was just a young fella, she really left an impression.
"Race Ruler was a great young horse while older horses like Kylie's Hero were good to me. I always enjoyed driving the United States horse Dare You To when he was here for the Inters in 1991."
Having just celebrated his 44th birthday, McKendry could be sitting in the sulky he has made his throne for another 20 years and if he keeps up his record of the past decade then he should be coming up to win 3000 in 10 years.
He rates Motoring Atom as his best drive tomorrow night, with Smooth Latin, Sophisticated Rhythm and Soona chances of bringing up the 2000.
Horse Racing: Countdown to 2000 almost over for Mac
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