Maui continues family legacy

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk

Maui continued his family’s legacy when winning the IRT. Your Horse. Our Passion. Mobile Trot (1980m) at Addington Raceway on Sunday.

Trained and driven by David McCormick, Maui hails from a breed established by McCormick’s father, Doug, which stretches back five generations.

McCormick is now continuing the lineage through Maui’s dam, three-win mare Shezadorabil, and four-win mare Cathy Combo.

“Dad bought into the family well before I was born,” McCormick said. “When he died a couple of years ago I was left with two mares – Shezadorabil and Cathy Combo.

“Cathy Combo has been a bit hard to breed from but Shezadorabil has only left the two foals in Dora Explorer and Maui. They have both won now, so that is handy.

“It is a good breed that Dad ended up with in the end. They haven’t left a good horse for a year or two, but a lot of nice horses.”

McCormick admitted being quietly confident heading into Sunday with Maui off the back of a pleasing runner-up performance at Rangiora the week prior.

“I expected him to win,” he said. “I thought on his run at Rangiora last week that unless something went wrong, he should win.

“I couldn’t believe he was paying $8, that was terrific money.”

While pleased with Maui’s efforts, McCormick was disappointed with stablemate Sungait’s Legacy’s unplaced result in the Breckon Farms Trot (2600m).

“I was warned by Lawrence, my son, beforehand not to rush her over the first bit. She went away alright and I rushed her, and we galloped.

“We’ll look for a mile and a quarter standing start somewhere now.”

McCormick is now looking forward to summer racing with Maui, where he expects him to pick-up a few cheques.

“Maui is the best horse I have got by a country mile,” he said. “He is a nice, wee horse. I knew it was only a matter of him trotting for him to win today and hopefully he can go on with it