Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
A few rough strides soon after the start and conceding the early lead to $101 outsider The Wildcard failed to ruin the $2.30 second fancy Soho Shakedown’s prospects in the $23,000 APG Summer Series NR 30-70 final over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Mitch Miller was quick to get Soho Shakedown pacing smoothly and the colt took up the running after 300m and then set a solid pace before winning by a half neck from the fast-finishing $11 chance Arionrock.
Three-year-old Soho Shakedown, trained by Kim Prentice, now has a splendid record of six wins and one close second placing from seven starts for earnings of $47,453.
Illawong Mustang, the $2.05 favourite, raced without cover before wilting to finish fifth.
“I was a little bit worried in the (home) straight,” admitted Miller. “Once Soho Shakedown puts the breeze horse (Illawong Mustang) away, he knocks off and waits for them. At the top of the straight I thought he was going to run a good third. But once he caught vision of the others he fought on really well.
“He is still quite inexperienced, and the fact that he stepped up a grade tonight was a good sign.”