Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Five-year-old The Miki Taker, winner of the Group 1 Pearl Classic as a two-year-old in June 2021, broke through for his first win for 12 months when star Capel trainer Aiden De Campo drove him to a splendid victory in the 1730m Vale Geoff Wallis Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Having his fourth start in his current preparation after a nine-month absence, The Miki Taker was the $4.40 second fancy from barrier five, with veteran pacer Illawong Mustang the warm $2.05 favourite from the coveted No. 1 barrier.
Dylan Egerton-Green set a fast pace with Illawong Mustang, with the final sections being run in 29.7sec., 28.6sec., 28sec. and 28.6sec. The Miki Taker mustered good early pace and he surged forward into the breeze after 500m. Illawong Mustang looked the likely winner when he led by almost three-quarters of a length approaching the home turn.
But The Miki Taker was not to be denied, and he finished resolutely to gain the upper hand in the final 15m and won by a half neck from $91 outsider Bee Jays Boy, who raced three back on the pegs before finishing fast along the inside. Illawong Mustang, who shifted out under pressure in the home straight, was a neck farther back in third place.
“I wasn’t really worried when Illawong Mustang led on the turn,” said De Campo. “My bloke usually bludges around the last corner but then always grabs the bit and wants to go when he straightens up. He knuckled down and went strongly to the line.
“He never wins by more than he has to. The plan was to sit outside the leader; that’s where he runs his best races. He doesn’t have the speed to get there early, and he had to do a bit of work to get to the breeze tonight.
“I’m still working on him, trying to sharpen him up. If he had a bit of high speed, I’d say he’d be good enough to run through the classes. He is dour at the moment and doesn’t have a lot of high speed.”
The Miki Taker has already amassed $175,909 in stakes from ten wins and 12 placings from 30 starts. He is the second foal out of the Art Major mare Topless Beach Girl, who raced 21 times for one win, ten placings and $21,810. Topless Beach Girl’s first foal Strike Team has had 35 starts for ten wins, ten placings and $82,238, and her third foal Insta Gator has earned $36,937 from three wins and nine placings from 17 starts.
The Miki Taker’s win in race one gave De Campo a flying start to the meeting in which he drove The Bettor Side and Copper Head Lady to victory in the Sales Classics for two-year-old colts and geldings and for fillies.