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Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators

Young reinsman Mitch Miller is forming an excellent association with WA-bred mare My Prayer, and he predicted more city successes for the five-year-old after driving her to a convincing victory in the 2130m Channel 7 Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

My Prayer, trained in Busselton by Barry Howlett, was a $7.60 chance from the No.1 barrier, and Miller took full advantage of the prized draw by setting the pace after resisting a powerful early challenge from the $2.25 favourite Vivere Damore.

After a fast lead time of 36.4sec. My Prayer relaxed and coasted through the first quarters of the final mile in 31.9sec. and 29.9sec. before final sections of 28.2sec. and 29.3sec. She won by more than a length from $41 outsider Weewah, rating 1.57.6.

“We were confident in quite a strong field that My Prayer had enough speed to lead,” said Miller. “And I was confident that she could do the work early and survive the early pressure from Vivere Damore and still be able to finish off.

“I was a bit worried down the back when I kicked away that something might come from behind. I was sure that I had the one on my back (Weewah) beaten, but I wasn’t sure that Mini Mine Yet, racing three back the pegs was a beaten horse.

“But the way My Prayer hit the line she could have gone another 400m. Going forward, I expect My Prayer to thrive in these sort of races.”

My Prayer, purchased for $9000 at the 2017 APG Perth yearling sale, is proving a bargain for Howlett, his wife Lyn and their son Jimmy. She has raced 51 times for eight wins, 16 placings and $146,881 in prizemoney.