Maxfield back with a bang in G3 Matt Winn

Maxfield enjoyed the perfect start to his three-year-old campaign as he maintained his unbeaten record with a cosy success in the extended-mile G3 Matt Winn Stakes on dirt at Churchill Downs, USA, on Saturday, 23 May.

Making his first start since comprehensively taking the G1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland in October, the Brendan Walsh-trained colt raced up with the early pace before settling in a close eighth of the 10 runners after the first quarter-mile.

Maxfield took closer order around the field turning in and quickened strongy down the centre of the course in the straight, reeling in NY Traffic and Pneumatic inside the final half-furlong. The Street Sense homebred readily went on and was eased on the line by Jose Ortiz for a length success.

Godolphin USA President Jimmy Bell said: “It was nice to see that Maxfield was able to maintain the same level of professionalism and consistency that he showed as a two-year-old.

“Maxfield had been off since October but I think that Brendan was quietly very confident that the horse was going to give a good account of himself. He felt that Maxfield was spot on in terms of fitness, while his mental attitude has always set him apart from day one.

“It’s great to see him back at the races and deliver a performance like that. This was a slightly different race compared to his two previous starts, when he walked out of the gates and picked off horses as he pleased. Today, he broke very sharply and was right up in the mix – he was behind a wall of horses and had to wait for his opportunity. When Jose got him to the outside and set Maxfield on his way in the straight, you could see he was moving best of all.

“Brendan was very focused on today’s race and there are numerous opportunities for Maxfield now. We were able to confirm what we hoped we had, and now we can sit down and think about plans going forward.”