Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Inexperienced New Zealand-bred five-year-old Miki Jet completed a notable double for Gary Hall Jnr when he scored an impressive victory in the 2130m APG The Industry Owned Sales Company Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
It gave Hall his first double as a trainer, following his win with Regal Cheval (driven by Maddison Brown) earlier in the evening.
Miki Jet was the $1.20 favourite from out wide at barrier eight, and Hall quickly had the gelding in a position to strike, in the one-out, one-back position, with Cooper ($5) setting the pace.
After a leisurely early pace, Cooper dashed over the third quarter of the final mile in 28.7sec. and Hall was content to keep Miki Jet racing comfortably in fourth position before sending him forward with 300m to travel.
Miki Jet sprinted smartly and burst to the front at the 50m mark to win by a half-length from Cooper, rating 1.57.5, with a final quarter of 27.5sec.
“I think he will go a fair way,” said Hall. “He’s still a bit of a baby and is not doing everything exactly how I want him to do. There are no major problems, but he is on and off the bit at different stages.
“I think that when he has had another ten starts after a good break, he will be the complete package.”
Miki Jet raced 21 times in New Zealand for four wins and eight placings, and his three wins and two placings from five starts in WA have boosted his career record to 26 starts for seven wins, ten placings and $65,573. He is the second foal out of the unraced Washington VC mare Clifton Christine.