Racing: Maximum hope but little confidence as visitor tackles $200,000 Easter Handicap

Hastings trainer Patrick Campbell doesn't know what to expect from Maximum Star in Saturday's $200,000 Easter Handicap at Ellerslie.

Campbell went home very enthusiastic about the feature 1600m event after Maximum Star scored a stunning win in the Flying Handicap at Manawatu two weeks ago.

Now he's not so sure.

"For a start I'm disappointed he's got 56.5kg because I believe that for what he's done he's too close to those good horses at the top of the handicap," he said yesterday.

"You've got to remember he's won only two open class races.

"He's giving weight to Dezigna. I know Dezigna's recent form isn't up to his best, but overall his record is outstanding - he's a group one winner this season.

"I thought, oh well, a good barrier draw will offset that, but he's drawn No 20, so he's buggered everywhere."

The only factor Campbell isn't worried about is the one many believe could be Maximum Star's undoing - his first start racing right-handed.

Campbell concedes trackwork is totally different to competing under race conditions, but he says Maximum Star has never been anything but flawless in training right-handed.

"He galloped here at Hastings with Darryl Bradley aboard on Tuesday morning on the plough, which is reasonably tight, and he did it perfectly."

Things are tough for Maximum Star - first start at Ellerslie, first start right-handed and giving weight to some smart horses, but it's difficult to forget the remarkable way he worked clear of some good horses by a wide margin when winning in a record 1.20.41 for 1400m at Manawatu two weeks ago.

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A two-race winner might be hard pressed to keep a maiden out of favouritism for the $50,000 Network Visuals Champagne Stakes on Saturday.

Bear Heart is the only winner in the Champagne field, having won two of his five starts.

But Bally Duff was so impressive when narrowly beaten on debut that he's the likely favourite at only his second start.

That form alone would have been sufficient to ensure strong support, but the fact the horse that just beat him at Pukekohe, Donthassleme, came out next start to win brilliantly at Te Aroha last weekend guaranteed Bally Duff a big following - wherever he raced next.

The Logan/Gibbs stable look to have a very promising youngster.