Ken Casellas | Photo: Gloucester Park Harness Racing
Up-and-coming reinsman Mitch Miller had only one thought in mind when he lined up at barrier No. 6 with Sweet Vivienne in the Follow The Trots WA on Facebook and Twitter Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night — and that was to take no prisoners.
His tactics were to take full advantage of Sweet Vivienne’s speed and strength, and he stuck by his aggressive plan even after the $2.45 favourite Fly To Fame burst straight to the front from barrier three and her driver Emily Suvaljko was keen to maintain this advantage.
Miller simply pressed on and eventually charged into the lead after 350m. The lead time was a fast 35.9sec. and ten Sweet Vivienne was able to relax and dawdle through the opening quarters of the final mile in 33.7sec. and 31.8sec.
Sweet Vivienne, trained by Kim Prentice and the second fancy at $3.30, then increased the tempo with final 400m sections of 29.4sec. and 29sec. and she won by 13 metres from $4.20 chance Our Lady Jen, who impressed in finishing strongly from eighth and last at the bell.
“I thought that Sweet Vivienne was the best filly in the race and we knew she had good gate speed,” said Miller. “So, I backed her in that she was the best filly who could do a bit of work. I had little doubt that Sweet Vivienne would get to the front. I simply was going to keep going until I got there.
“I didn’t care how much work I did to get to the lead because I was always going to get a breather after getting to the front. For a filly to run that lead time and still finish the way she did was full of merit. She will now go for a break and will come back bigger, better and stronger as a three-year-old.”
Sweet Vivienne, bred and part-owned by Paula Petricevich, is by American sire Sweet Lou and is the only foal out of unraced mare Quite A Sensation. Sweet Vivienne has had 11 starts for four wins, two placings and $35,146.