Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Boom mare Taking The Miki continued her devastating form with an easy win in the Group 3 $50,000 WASBA Breeders Stakes at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
She is a deceptive pacer who simply refuses to give up in her races, with part-owner and trainer Jemma Hayman saying: “She is a funny horse because when you watch her, she is never under a hold. She is just a free going horse, and you never know how much she has left. She has a heart bigger than herself, and she doesn’t know when to give up.”
Taking The Miki has resumed after a four-month absence in outstanding form, with her six starts as a four-year-old producing five wins and an unlucky third in the Easter Cup — taking her record to 33 starts for ten wins, 14 placings and $297,253 in prizemoney, as well as some handsome bonus payments.
Taking The Miki was the $3.40 second favourite from the No. 1 barrier in Friday night’s 2130m event, and she was smartest to begin before Chris Voak surrendered the lead to $12 chance Sovrana after 100m.
Voak then quickly dashed Taking The Miki forward to regain the lead 100m later, and the mare was able to cover the opening quarters of the final mile in 30.4sec. and 30sec. before sprinting over the third 400m in 27.6sec. and then coming home in 29.1 sec. to record a 1.56.4 rate.
“This was the first time in mobile events in this campaign that Taking The Miki has been used off the arm,” said Voak. “But she really got off the gate quickly and felt good. Even though she did a bit of work, she did it in her stride. She felt terrific and won accordingly.”
Three Rumours, a $19 chance from barrier two, had a tough run in the breeze all the way and fought on grandly to finish second, 5m from the winner, with the $2.45 favourite Wonderful To Fly finishing with a dazzling late burst, out six wide, from tenth at the 300m to be third, a half-length behind Three Rumours.
Eighteen Carat, the $3.70 third fancy from the inside of the back line, trailed the pacemaker until Gary Hall Jnr eased her off the pegs at the bell. She was forced wide in the final circuit and did not threaten danger, finishing ninth.