Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
In-form reinsman Mitch Miller admits he was quite apprehensive when he went on to the track at Bunbury last Saturday week to drive the lightly-raced seven-year-old Franco Ecuador at his first appearance for two years.
“But I was excited after the race,” he said after guiding Franco Ecuador to a superb six-length victory over The Righteous over 2569m.
“A lot of hard work has gone into him to get him back to the races. He is blessed with a lot of ability, and hopefully he stays healthy.”
The New Zealand-bred Franco Ecuador is trained by Kim Prentice and has raced only ten times for six wins and two placings.
“He damaged a suspensory a couple of years ago,” said Miller. “Then he had 12 months in Bridgetown, walking up and down the hills. He has been in work for six or seven months, and it has been a nice, slow build-up. His Bunbury win was super. I expect him to lead or race in the breeze on Friday night, and he will be hard to beat.”
The main danger to Franco Ecuador is likely to be trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo’s talented five-year-old The Miki Taker, who has resumed after a nine-month absence in excellent fashion with a half-head second to Flying Rumour and a fighting third to Hotly Pursued and Jawsoflincoln on the past two Friday nights. The Miki Taker is capable of overcoming the disadvantage of starting from the outside (No. 9) on the front line.
Outstanding young reinsman Kyle Symington has begun the 2024 season in fine style with 13 winners in the first six weeks of the year, after 101 winners in 2022 and 102 last year.
The 22-year-old Symington has five drives at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he faces a tough evening, saying: “They are all going well but the draws haven’t been nice for any of them.
“Tiger Royal (barrier No. 5; race two) is a very nice horse who is racing well, and an honest performance would be good,” he said.
“Showpony (barrier eight; race four) is in awesome form and is not completely out of it. Swingband (barrier nine; race five) faces a difficult task from out wide. The Wildcard (barrier eleven; race one) has led in his wins, but won’t be leading here. Franco Encore (barrier six; race nine) is working well, but this is a very good field.”