Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
It was a rare sight at Gloucester Park when 34-year-old Coolup horseman Dean Miller donned the pink and purple racing silks to drive promising two-year-old filly Poppys Last Dance in the last event, the Retravision Online Pace, on Friday night.
And Miller enjoyed the trip from the country as he guided Poppys Last Dance, the $2.20 favourite, to victory by a neck over Purely Pandemic ($5.50) and the pacemaker Allizee ($10).
Miller was unable to recall his previous drive at a Gloucester Park city meeting, and he thought that One For Sassy gave him his previous city training and driving success when that gelding beat Rockin The Boys in a 2130m MO event on March 9, 2018.
“I’ve given the driving away, mostly,” he explained. “I’ve been concentrating on breaking and educating young horses, and at the moment I have 24 under my care.
“I’m training just one pacer, Poppys Last Dance, who is owned by Clint Pearce, who bred the pacer with his late father Ross, thus the name of this filly.”
Poppys Last Dance is by American sire Betting Line and is the fourth foal out of the Christian Cullen mare Lagoon Express, who raced 70 times for four wins, 17 placings and $32,998.
Lagoon Express is a half-sister to Thejewelinhereye, who was broken in by Miller several years ago before racing 169 times for 28 drivers for 14 wins, 29 placings and $104,316.
“I’m too busy and just don’t have the hours to drive in races,” said Miller. “Tonight, we went back (from barrier three) to the fence and was stuck in last place until I was able to work my way off the inside down the back, and then returned to the pegs before Poppys Last Dance finished strongly.”
Poppys Last Dance dashed to the front in the final 50m and won in good style, rating 2.0.3 over 2130m, with a final quarter of 29.2sec. This took her record to two starts for one win and one second and stakes of $13,627.