'Lost for words' at win

Rider Matthew Cameron salutes after he wins the Coupland's Mile at Riccardo yesterday aboard True Enough. Photo: Race Images
Rider Matthew Cameron salutes after he wins the Coupland's Mile at Riccardo yesterday aboard True Enough. Photo: Race Images
Longtime friends Daniel Miller and Mick Dee reunited to score New Zealand Cup carnival success in the Stewards Handicap at Riccarton yesterday.

Miller had notched the biggest win from his Matamata stable when Dee produced a front-running ride on Sheezallmine to win the group 3 1200m feature.

Dee was the star jockey of the middle day of the New Zealand Cup Carnival at Riccarton during what was a fleeting visit from Victoria.

Dee answered a call-up from Miller to ride for his team, and the jockey did not let his old friend down.

''Dan and I have been good mates for ages, way back to the showjumping days, then when we worked together at Te Akau [Racing Stables],'' the jockey said.

Before yesterday's feature, Dee had a plan for what part of the Riccarton track he wanted to put Sheezallmine on, but the horse had other ideas.

''I wanted to follow the rail the whole way up, but she wanted to get out there on the middle.

''I wanted to get a nice, soft lead just so we could get a good kick off the corner when straightening up.

''She did that, but still did a lot wrong in the straight.

''But to her credit she was strong through the line.''

Miller's parents, John and Maree, paid just $1000 for Sheezallmine on an online auction site.

The winner's slice of yesterday's $100,000 race stake was more than 59 times that purchase price.

''It's crazy. I am lost for words,'' Miller said.

''She is the first horse I have trained for Mum and Dad, the first horse I broke in for them and took to the trials and races, and she was my first winner.

''She has been a great horse for me and she is no longer a $1000 horse ... she is now one of the better sprinters in New Zealand.''

Miller is a former jumps jockey who only turned his hand to training in the past two seasons.

Yesterday's win was undoubtedly the biggest of his career so far.

Sheezallmine gave Dee such a good feeling yesterday he said she could match up in the highly competitive metropolitan racing scene in Melbourne.

''She is definitely city class, that is for sure. She could measure up to black-type on Saturdays over there,'' he said.

Miller and Dee got their day off to a perfect start when earlier combining to win yesterday's opener with Lavaglo.

Star Otago mare The Precious One produced a creditable sixth placing behind Sheezallmine in her first start for the season.

Another leading Otago horse missed a top three placing in a Riccarton feature when Gallant Boy finished 11th in the Coupland's Mile.

The group 2 feature also went to the North Island after True Enough produced a fighting win in the group 2 1600m feature.

True Enough refused to relinquish the lead after being challenged throughout the run home by runner-up Vigor Winner.

''He really dug deep and all credit to the second horse, he took a while to get past,'' rider Matthew Cameron said.

''My horse is still learning and he is really starting to find that line, which is great.''

Andrew Forsman, who trains True Enough with Murray Baker, said yesterday's win rewarded some patience with the horse.

''Every time we have raised the bar with him he has stepped up, so it was nice to see him do that today.

''He has been a slow maturer and the owners have been willing to be very patient with him, and we have taken our time and it seems to be paying off.''

True Enough's win has earned him a shot at the elite racing level in New Zealand.

''He will fly home on Monday and we will see how he is and make a bit of a plan,'' Forsman said of his charge.

''Off the back of that win he is probably a weight-for-age horse in New Zealand.

''We have got options like the Captain Cook and at some point, it would be nice to try him at a middle distance.''

Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston ensured northern trainers did not sweep yesterday's features, producing

Ticket To Ride to win the group 3 Canterbury Breeders Stakes with rider Kylie Williams.

Add a Comment