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West Australian
3 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Simon Miller takes four heats at Monday's Belmont trials with several coming winners for the top trainer
Top trainer Simon Miller showcased plenty of coming winners at Monday's Belmont trials session, taking four heats across the morning. Miller first exhibited dark-coated two-year-old Twisted Steel making his first public appearance since January. The $100,000 yearling purchase scooted over to second place in the 1000m hit-out, parking outside Gentleman's Code. With 600m to go, Chloe Azzopardi allowed the gelding to slide up and eclipse the pacesetter, travelling better as the pair made the bend. Nudged along with 200m remaining, Twisted Steel put paid to Gentleman's Code and despite a late effort from Radiant Light, scored a handsome two-length win. The son of Rommel showed noticeable physical improvement from his opening trial where he also shaped encouragingly with a second placing to handy filly Pony Up. Next, Miller unveiled talented three-year-old filly Madhi Girl, who also had not been seen since the beginning of the year. Despite being among the last to leave the gates, Giaan O'Donnell swept the daughter of Winning Rupert around the field and took a near three-length lead after 200m. Floating along in a comfortable rhythm throughout, Madhi Girl swung the turn with a two-length buffer over Canny Coni and Kosta's Crown, who both got no closer down the straight. Madhi Girl has already proven a prolific earner for owner Teleah Hulse, who purchased the chestnut as a yearling in 2023 for $68,000. So far, she has amassed $280,000 in prizemoney, with career highlights including runner-up performances in the two-year-old Magic Millions and Placid Ark Prelude. Two-time winning three-year-old Horcrux will have also pleased his new connections with his hard-fought display in heat 11. The Miller-trained gelding was sold by his Ladbrokes Racing Club owners in February for $65,000 but the $180,000 earner was bought back by his trainer and stable connections. Sitting outside Talk To Wyn for the duration and with Want A Winner chiming in three wide, Horcrux stuck his nose out where it mattered in a driving three-way photo finish. A debut victor in July 2024, the son of Rommel was competitive without winning in the headline three-year-old events later that year. Miller's final winner for the morning was fellow three-year-old Diamond Dancer, who showed her true potential with a stylish showing. Whizzed across by O'Donnell to sit outside speedster Nonesospicy, Diamond Dancer moved up to join issue passing the 600m. However, Nonesospicy gave a generous kick turning the bend and immediately drew almost a length in front of the chestnut. Regathering her poise and shaken up by her rider at the 200m, Diamond Dancer focused on the task at hand and rapidly eroded the deficit within 100m. Kept up to her work, the daughter of Long Leaf strode clear and held a late effort from Surround Me by a length and a half, with Nonesospicy a further half-length away. Purchased for $130,000, Diamond Dancer has won just one race but has mixed it with the best of her age group in her 10-start career. Soundly held in Group events as a two-year-old, she gave a great sight when looming to win the Burgess Queen in November last year before emptying out for a close-up fourth.
News.com.au
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Jokers Grin wins The Quokka for the locals
Jokers Grin became the first Western Australian galloper to win the state's biggest race – the $5 million Quokka (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday. The victory was by the biggest win of 70-year-old trainer Bernie Miller's career while it was redemption for winning rider Pat Carbery, who was aboard Amelia's Jewel when beaten a nose in the inaugural running of The Quokka in 2023. 'It's absolutely brilliant, how can you put that into words,' Miller told the 'I'll wake up tomorrow and still won't be able to talk about it. 'A dream come true. 'A lot of belief from a lot of people that have backed me and helped me out throughout the years, your vets, your staff at home, my farrier. 'It's just fantastic, a big dream.' The only previous Quokka winner Overpass was sent out a commanding favourite to make it three straight wins in the race and after being made to work early, he crossed the field and took up the running but this year, his winning kick wasn't there and it was left to the swoopers. At the 200m, Sydneysider Headwall emerged and looked the winner but tagging him was Jokers Grin and late in the piece he got the better of Headwall to score with another local, Generosity in third while Overpass weakened into fifth. SOMETHING TO GRIN ABOUT! 😊 Jokers Grin has won the 2025 edition of The Quokka for 70-year-old trainer Bernie Miller. — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) April 26, 2025 'It was about the 150 when I saw him fan out and I thought 'we'll just use the old camber and we'll be right',' Miller said. 'I stood where I've never watched him before and the trill of watching him go past, it was tremendous.' The win was also provided Carbery with the biggest victory in the career of the five-time Group 1-winning veteran. He and Miller are best mates, and the victory was a dream come true on a personal level for the pair of racing stalwarts. 'I don't have to talk about Bernie, everyone knows what I think of him, we're best mate,' Carbery said. 'Not because we've had success together, we're just best mates. 'I'm really lucky. A lot of people don't get to work with someone that is really close to you and I'm just blessed for one, to ride for Bernie but to also be his best mate. 'This is just the pinnacle of my career.' The winning slot holder was the Ladbrokes Racing Club which on Thursday night also won greyhound racing's version of The Quokka, The Sandgroper with Deadly Avenger.
