Campbell's star may shine in Telegraph

HASTINGS trainer Patrick Campbell likens Maximum Star's tilt at the $250,000 Telegraph Handicap (1200m) at Trentham on Saturday to a young rugby player taking the step from club to representative level.

Campbell has thrown a saddle over some beauts over the years like Burletta, Avedon, Val d'Arno, Straight Order and Merry Maiden and he is back in the spotlight this weekend when the Wellington Cup carnival opens.

Maximum Star is the new kid on the sprinting block after back- to-back wins, albeit in the lower grades.

But if the racing gods smile on the horse today, when the barrier draw is released, then Campbell is predicting a slashing run.

Maximum Star is rated an $18 chance by the TAB bookmakers but the market will move in all directions once the draw is completed.

The fixed-odds favourite is the great mare Seachange ($2.80) with Irlanda ($5) the only other sprinter in single digits.

"I'm very happy with him [Maximum Star], but it is a huge step up," Campbell said.

"But he's earned the right to have a crack and if he was to draw well and get a good run he could be competitive and could run in the first five.

"If he draws out, that nullifies the chances. We'll have to go back and take our chances and if they are running a Telegraph time like breaking 1min 8s it makes it pretty formidable."

Maximum Star threatened the course record at Awapuni on December 22 when he streaked clear of Likenothinelsie by 2 1/2 lengths to win the sprint in 1min 8.77s.

He then stepped up to 1400m at Hastings on New Year's Day and cruised home over 1400m on a slightly off track.