Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
WA-bred five-year-old Otis has been out of action for 18 months, and two recent excellent trials at Pinjarra are a firm indication that he is ready to produce a powerful first-up effort when he begins off the 10-metre mark in the Smooth FM Perth ON Digital Radio Handicap.
His clash with the brilliant four-year-old mare Taking The Miki should produce plenty of fireworks. Otis will be having his first start in a stand, whereas Taking the Miki has performed superbly in recent standing-start events.
“Both his trials have been good,” said trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green. “In the first of the trials he finished second to Never Ending, and then he broke two minutes in a 2116m stand, in which he ran good sectionals.
“He has had a long time off due to a leg injury. His work has been good, and he should be thereabouts on Friday night.”
Otis started from barrier seven in a field of eight in a 2185m mobile trial on April 26 when he dashed to the front after 120m before taking the sit behind Never Ending 400m later. Egerton-Green eased Otis off the pegs 380m from home and the Sweet Lou horse ran home solidly to finish a head second to the outstanding and unbeaten Never Ending, rating a smart 1.56.9, with a final 400m in 27.1sec.
Then, on May 4 Otis began smoothly in a 2116m standing-start trial in which he took the lead after 700m and sprinted over the final 400m sections in 27.7sec. and 28.1sec. on his way to win the trial by 45 metres at a 1.59.3 rate.
Chris Voak, who drives Taking the Miki for trainer Jemma Hayman, said: “She has the form on the board, and if she steps well and gets to the front, she’ll have a very good winning chance.”
The Miki Taker and Otis are unlikely to have things all their own way in a race in which the 30m backmarker Middlepage, The Code Breaker, Yankee Rhythm and others are racing in fine form.