Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Outstanding young pacer Tricky Miki is on target to shine in the $200,000 Golden Nugget in December and other rich feature events for four-year-olds in the coming summer.
That was the verdict after watching him return to action after a four-month absence when he crushed his rivals in the 2130m Hoist Torque Australia Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The Justin Prentice-trained Tricky Miki began from the inside of the back line and was second favourite at $3.50, with six-year-old Classic Choice the $2.15 favourite from the No. 4 barrier, and after his fast-finishing second to Thomson Bay a week earlier.
Classic Choice was fastest into stride but was unable to cross $6.50 chance Per Ardua Ad Astra, who sprinted over the lead time in a sparkling 34.6sec. This early speed spread out the field and enabled Gary Hall Jnr to move Tricky Miki into the one-wide line and into the prime one-out, one-back position, following Classic Choice.
After a quick 28.8sec. third quarter Hall sent Tricky Miki forward with a sharp burst which saw him dash to the front 2150m from home on his way to winning by four lengths from $21 chance Soho Dow Jones. The last 400m was covered in 28.2sec. and Tricky Miki rated 1.56.
“It was good to see him bounce back in some form,” said Prentice. “He had an unusual preparation last time (early this year when he had six starts for four placings followed by a seventh and ninth). I’m still not really sure what wasn’t right.
“But now he’s looked the best he has ever looked. I have been happy with his work, and I expected him to run a good race. After the first couple of hundred metres I thought we were a big chance.
“In his previous preparation I though his first few runs were okay, and they weren’t terribly disappointing. Then after a couple more runs he started getting a bit sour at home, and even his work wasn’t very good.
“So, I decided that I should tip him out and give him a spell before bringing him back and give him a chance at the Nugget. He has come back really good and has held his condition.
“He still got very worked up and nervy tonight when he got here. He also got into a lather of sweat. But that usually settles down after a few runs, and he should be improved after tonight’s run.”
Tricky Miki is building a splendid reputation. He now has raced 21 times for nine wins, nine placings and $352,942 in stakes. His record includes wins in the 2021 Golden Slipper as a two-year-old and the Westbred Classic, Western Gateway Pace and WA Derby as a three-year-old.