Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Breeder and owner Rob Watson, trainer Kim Prentice and reinsman Mitch Miller are proving to be a highly successful combination in WA pacing, and they combined to win the $27,000 BOTRA Thanks Garrard’s Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park with Soho Moonraker on Friday night.
A night after Soho Moonraker’s win, Watson rejoiced with the victory of that gelding’s close relation Soho Americano in the Group 1 $150,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks at Albion Park.
Soho Moonraker’s elder half-sister Soho Interceptor is the dam of Soho Americano, who was a $6.50 chance who beat Cool And Classy by a head in the Oaks.
Soho Moonraker is by Sweet Lou and is out of former star mare Aussie Made Lombo, who was retired with earnings of $578,456 from 22 wins and 26 placings from 62 starts.
Soho Moonraker has raced 12 times in WA for three wins and five placings, taking his career record to 29 starts for seven wins and eight placings for stakes of $87,009.
Soho Moonraker ($4.20) began from the No. 5 barrier and Miller dashed him past $91 outsider Cloud Nine to take up the running after 400m, while the $2.65 favourite Blaze On settled down at the rear after starting from the outside of the back line.
Blaze On began a three-wide move with 1250mto travel and he finished determinedly to be second, a length behind the winner, who rated 1.56.4 after final quarters of 28sec. and 28.1sec.
“I was pretty confident Soho Moonraker could win, and we got it a bit easier than I expected,” said Miller. “Once in front we were able to control the race. Now I’m looking forward to Soho Moonraker stepping up in grade and following some of the better ones.”