Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
A series of feature events for mares in the coming months is on the agenda for the outstanding five-year-old Taking the Miki, who gave a superb performance to outclass her ten rivals in the 2130m Westral Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“She did it in second gear, rated 1.55.1 and continues to impress and shows that she is ready to go into the next level,” said part-owner and trainer Jemma Hayman.
“She has had a long prep and I’ll give her a week off, and then I’ll target a few feature races for mares in February and March.”
Among those features are the $50,000 Laurie Kennedy Pace over 1730m (February 9), the $50,000 Lombardo Pace over 2536m (March 8), the $35,000 Race For Roses over 2503m (April 5), the $75,000 Empress Stakes over 2536m (April 19), the $50,000 WASBA Breeders Stakes over 2130m (May 3) and the $50,000 Kerry Clarke Pace over 2130m (June 21).
Taking the Miki was a heavily-backed $1.50 favourite from barrier No. 5, with the polemarker Lamandier, a noted frontrunner, the second fancy at $2.60.
Lamandier, having his first start for 45 days, led early before Chris Voak urged Taking The Miki forward to take up the running after 250m.
After a swift lead time of 36.3sec. Taking the Miki made life tough for her opponents, reeling off similar opening quarters of 29.9sec. followed by final 400m sections of 28.3sec. and 27.9sec. to win by five lengths from Lamandier.
Hayman said that she planned for Voak to set the pace, considering that Lamandier had been off the scene for several weeks.
“So, I guess there is respect for Taking the Miki, and I thought Lamandier was likely to take a sit,” she said. “Then, if Lamandier was good enough to outsprint Taking the Miki at the finish, and win, so be it.”
Taking the Miki is by American sire Always B Miki and is the first foal out of the Bettors Delight mare All American Dream (63 starts for four wins, five placings and $23,908). Taking The Miki has already amassed $365,318 in prizemoney from 12 wins and 18 placings from 47 starts.
She is destined for further major race victories, following her successes in the 2022 WA Oaks, the Gold Bullion in April 2021, the WASBA Breeders Stakes in May 2023 and the Schrader Pace in October 2023.