Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Talented mare Taking the Miki is on target to make a bold bid for victory in the $30,000 Race For Roses, a 2503m standing-start event at Gloucester Park next Friday week, after a stylish win in the 2130m Trotsynd Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“The Race For The Roses is a race I have always wanted to win,” said managing part-owner and trainer Jemma Hayman. “In my opinion, we don’t have enough feature stands, and this is the only premier stand for mares. The winner is adorned with roses, and I love that spectacle.”
Taking The Miki was the $2.60 favourite on Friday night when she began out wide at barrier No. 7 and settled at the rear while Let It Linga ($6.50) was setting a modest early pace. Chris Voak then seized the initiative and sent Taking The Miki forward to work in the breeze.
Taking The Miki forged to the front 450m from home, and after a third 400m section of 28.3sec., she dashed away and won by a length and a half from $31 chance Shehadi, who finished solidly after trailing the leader. The final quarter was run in a leisurely 30sec. and the winner rated 1.58.
“It wasn’t the plan to zip round early,” said Hayman. “It was an astute decision by Voaky to send her around when he detected a slight drop in pace and knowing that he had the strongly fancied Machs Legacy ($2.80) behind him.
“Taking the Miki is not big but has a big heart and is tough.”
Taking The Miki, the WA Oaks winner last year, has earned $250,853 from eight wins and 14 placings from 31 starts.