Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
WA-bred five-year-old The Miki Taker revealed admirable toughness to race without cover before winning the previous week, and he was seen in the role of a sit-sprinter when he was successful in the 2130m Perth Now Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Capel trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo decided that The Miki Taker’s best winning chance from the inside of the back line would be to remain on the pegs and trail the polemarker and $1.20 favourite Solesseo Matuca and rely on luck.
The Miki Taker, great value at $8.50 after his win a week earlier, travelled well behind the frontrunning Solesseo Matuca, who looked the winner when he dashed away to be two lengths in front of The Miki Taker with just 100m to travel.
The Miki Taker was hopelessly hemmed in during the final circuit, but De Campo was able to ease him off ther pegs and into the clear 120m from home when the breeze horse Soho Santorini began to wilt and drop back. The Miki Taker got to the front in the final couple of strides and won by a half-length from Solesseo Matuca.
The Miki Taker is racing with commendable enthusiasm and is sure to improve on his splendid record of 31 starts for eleven wins, 12 placings and $186,819.