A veteran horse from the South Island has claimed a unique slice of NZ racing history.
Eleven-year-old gelding 'Alexy' has set a new mark for races run, after starting its 305th at Addington last week.
But with just 10 wins through that nine-year career - a win percentage of just three - he's also become a cult figure in the sport.
"You get the odd whisper," says trainer Denis O'Connell. "Mainly from people saying 'why are you keeping on persevering with this fellow'."
O'Connell has trained Alexy for the past five years, after he was offered to him by previous trainer and brother in law Bruce Negus.
"He's the biggest battler going around," Negus says of his former horse.
"Many times I suggested that Denis quit with him because he lost form."
Alexy comes from good blood. His dad ''Courage Under Fire' was a record holder himself, starting his career with a record 24 wins in a row in the late 1990s.
"He was a great sire, but Alexy's probably not his greatest horse," Negus adds.
Perhaps not his greatest, but easily his most persistent.
"I would think this season may be his last," says O'Connell.
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