Pop's Maestro ready for Gold Bullion

By Josh Spasaro

Fresh from a personal best in a super heat run last week, Pop’s Maestro has extra motivation going into the Gold Bullion Final at Q2 Parklands on Thursday night.

After crossing the line in 29.59 seconds for Travis Elson, this week he’ll be running to honour his champion grand-dam, Cyndie’s Magic – a bitch who threw seven chasers who earned over $100,000 each, among 10 other winners.

She started a very respectable 152 races for 45 wins, picking up over $425,000 in prizemoney.

But, just as importantly is the joy she brought to the Elson family, particularly Travis’s parents Cyndie and his late father, Bill, at their Churchable property.

“The past eight years she’s had a bedroom in Mum’s house where she slept on a single bed,” Elson said.

“She had her own bedroom. It was like Mum having her own daughter. And, what she’s produced for us has been amazing.

“Not only that, but what she did on the racetrack for us.”

Cyndie’s Magic passed away just last month aged 14.

But, her daughters Magical Hope and Magical Cyndie are ready to carry on her legacy, along with Limited Edition, who is the dam of Pop’s Maestro.

“It was a hard time for Mum. She’s got another few lots of progeny who are going to hit the track this year, which will be very exciting,” Elson added.

“Limited Edition’s sisters have got litters on the ground, so it’ll be very exciting with how they go as well.

“Magical Hope and Magical Cyndie are the two sisters. They were probably better class bitches than Limited Edition.”

In another nice touch, Pop’s Maestro is named after Travis’s father, who would always say to his son Cody, “where’s my little maestro?”

Indeed, another driving factor for Pop’s Maestro in the Group 1 feature worth $375,015 over 520 metres will be his want to get to the inside from the seven box.

“He just needs to come out strong. It’s a pretty hot field. Probably not ideally drawn because he is hard to get to the rail,” Elson said.

Elson was impressed with the front-running effort from his two-year-old dog – with 15 wins from 31 starts and $107,110 in earnings so far – in his heat last Thursday.

After jumping cleanly from the three box, Pop’s Maestro showed plenty of courage to hold off a fast-finishing Cumbria Chrissy for Tony Brett.

The Yandina Creek conditioner is hoping his chaser by Aston Rupee can replicate that type of performance this week.

“That was his personal best. He’s known as more of a front-runner, so to be a chance we’ve got to be out in front,” he said.

“But, it’ll be hard with a dog beside us (Canya Mayhem in box six) who’s won the Melbourne Cup.

“He’s probably one of the best chasers I’ve ever had. I’ve found him to be one of the best chasers I’ve had.”

Canya Mayhem produced the fastest Gold Bullion heat time of 29.37 seconds.

However, Elson believes Cumbia Chrissy – with 10 wins from 22 starts – will again be tough to hold out. 

“I don’t like to say this and put the mocker on anyone. But, I think the race is probably set up for Tony Brett’s bitch, who’s going to be hard to beat,” he said.

“I don’t think the one (Irish Bill) has got enough speed to hold the rail. If he does, he’s explosive. I don’t think they’ll hold him out.

“But, I think Canya Mayhem probably has to jump a bit better than last week. I know his first section was good, but his first three or four strides weren’t super.

“He had slow dogs drawn around him.

“Pop’s Maestro is not going to give Mayhem any breathing space. I wish I wasn’t drawn beside him.”

An emotional Elson celebrated Hello Mike’s win in the 2023 Gold Bullion Final, savouring the moment with Bill trackside.

“We were fortunate enough to knock off this race a couple of years ago with Hello Mike,” he said.

“It’s just amazing to be back in this race. We tried the race with Bear’s Bullet (in 2024) and we couldn’t win it.

“So, Pop’s Maestro is our next hope.”

Meanwhile the dam of Pop’s Maestro, Limited Edition, is also set to continue the great legacy passed down from her dam, Cyndie’s Magic.

“She’s got another litter on the ground to Hooked On Scotch. They’re about five months old,” Elson said.

“I hope (they go on to do well). This litter is two years and four months old. There were only four in that litter and they’ve all won for me now.

“They’re going good, so I’m very happy with that.”