Irish racehorse trainer Wilie Mullins has taken to the media to announce that the Rich and Susannah Ricci-owned horse Max Dynamite, who was twice placed in the Melbourne Cup, has officially retired at the age of ten.
Max Dynamite, who has a 44-race career, has only been able to win five times having just a maiden hurdle success in his career over jumps. Despite that, he is often seen being carried out on his shield, and have secure more than €1.1 million as prize money.
On his debut year for Mullins back n November 2014, he was being dotted on in a Thurles maiden hurdle for Ruby Walsh. In 2015, he was able to finish second place to behind Quick Jack in the Galway Hurdle before going on to emerge as the victor in the Lonsdale Cup at York under jockey Frankie Dettori.
Not long after, Italian horseracing jockey Dettori took the saddle on Max Dynamite again at Flemington when they were both denied first place after coming so close to just half a length behind Prince Of Penzance, who was saddled with Michelle Payne, in the Melbourne Cup that has some best bets place from The Winner Enclosure that particular year.
He ended up in the third position at Flemington again behind Rekindling and Johannes Vermeer claiming the second spot to guarantee an Irish record clean sweep in the tournament.
Speaking to Racing TV regarding the 10-year-old horse, Ruby Walsh said via Racing Post: “Jumping was never really his forte.
“He was a way better Flat horse. He won a Lonsdale, and he was maybe a little unlucky in a Melbourne Cup when Michelle Payne got a great run down the inside and he got caught in a little bit of a pocket. He served his owners well and I’m sure he’ll enjoy his retirement.”
Being versatile, Max Dynamite was able to come out second in the Northumberland Plate back in 2015. He placed third in 2019’s Queen Alexandra Stakes at the Royal Ascot before emerging in the same position in the Doncaster Cup behind Stradivarius before being second to Thomas Hobson a year ago. He contested Group 1s in Hong Kong, France, and Britain.
In 2020, however, he has been unable to reignite that particular form of his in three starts over fences before horse racing was put on hold due to the widespread coronavirus pandemic, the Flat and over hurdles races were unable to bring back that form.
Announcing Max Dynamite’s retirement on Twitter, Mullins said: “Max Dynamite has been retired. The international traveler in our yard, topped by his second and third in the Melbourne Cup. He has been a pleasure to train & earned over £1m for Susannah & Rich Ricci. Special thanks to Jimmy Kelly for his expert care over the last seven years.”
In other news, Love is now reportedly top-priced at 5-2 onset to become the fourth three-year-old colt to secure a victory in the Prix d’Arc de Triomphe in the past 10 years, although the heavy ground at Longchamp was a cause for concern, her race on Thursday massively displayed her ability to act. Enable, who won the Arc in two consecutive years, 2017 and 2018, before settling for second last year, is priced 3-1 while Ghaiyyath was given 6-1.
