In Brief
- Memorial Day in Devonport
- Buckle Up Axon back in form
- Johnson team well represented with runners in all 10 races
Classy sprinter Buckle Up Axon will step out on the track to contest his 74th race in Devonport just two days before he turns four-years old. He comes into Tuesday’s race in great form having won two of his past three starts with both his wins coming on the track in Invitation class events.
Buckle Up Axon’s journey began back in June 2018 where his ability was on display from day one. He was brilliant in Devonport on debut running 25.69, which was the quickest time of the day. He went through the grades quickly, winning his 10th race after just 23 starts taking out the Breeders Classic along the way.
After running 25.86 to win a grade four event in Hobart on 29 August 2019, the fastest run of the meeting, it would be almost a year before he was on the winners list again. This stretch includes a period of six-months where he was away from the track and a further three-month break after returning for only the four races in March 2020.
He finished the year with two wins from just 20 starts due to injury which requires ongoing management.
The Johnson team have done a great job with Buckle Up Axon and have been rewarded with a terrific start to 2021 which has seen the blue son of Buckle Up Wes and Amercia Bale win twice with a further second placing from four races.
Owner Robyn Johnson said his recently retired and very successful littermate, Buckle Up Azona, had been rehomed. Azona was the faster of the two during their early education however Axon quickly took over mostly due to his competitive nature.
“Within three or four runs at the track during training, Axon had overtaken Azona,” Johnson said.
“Axon decided he really didn’t like him in front of him and decided he was going to be the fastest.”
Unlike his brother that preferred room in his races, Axon was keen to push through smaller gaps to put himself in the race.
“To some degree, I think that’s why he ended up with a few more injuries that he has to carry,” owner Robyn Johnson said.
“Axon is racing well, and he’ll continue to race until he tells us he doesn’t want to do it.”
The Devonport meeting on Tuesday is dedicated to participants who have left us in recent times and in the year’s past, and it’s one that means a lot to the prominent owner.
“‘We wanted to remember these people. It’s more about having conversations about their contributions and other things we can remember about them as the topic for the day. The races have been named after these special people,” explained Johnson.
Watch Buckle Up Axon win the Invitation race last week in Devonport.