Max Meridius routs rivals at Thurles Cheap purchase Max Meridius (100/30jf) registered a second career success today, landing Thurles’ Welcome Back Handicap by seven lengths, for owner Helen Mullins, her husband trainer Tom Mullins and jockey Jimmy Dalton. Bought for €3,000 as a yearling, the son of Belardo had gained a maiden success over hurdles at Ballinrobe in July and today, on his seventh Flat start, raced prominently and routed 13 rivals. Trainer Mullins reported “he always promised a little bit but is down at the lower end of the ratings now, although promised to do something like that. We hadn’t been easy to work out but we probably should have ridden him more forwardly all along. “It was my fault in Clonmel last week as I should have told Danny (Mullins, jockey and nephew) to kick on but the race went around him over the last two hurdles. Danny was then stuck and couldn’t produce until after the last. “He is a better Flat horse than jumper at the moment but might get to grips with jumping. He has size, is a fine horse who was bought cheaply and will eventually jump a fence. “He is not a winter soft-ground horse but could come back here over hurdles soon.” Maximus Decimus Meridius is the legendary protagonist of Gladiator, portrayed by Russell Crowe.
