Miller Legacy Lives On Through Rellim

h

Harness

Rellim with Dean, Mitch and Daryl Miller after their win at Pinjarra. Photography by Jodie Hallows

“I think it’s the best horse I’ll ever have” – Dean Miller expects big things from his two-year-old, Rellim.

It’s been just over 70 years since the original Rellim, who was owned and trained by Ross Miller has graced the harness tracks of WA, but his son Daryl Miller believes he has finally found the right horse to bestow the family name.

Trained by Dean Miller and owned by his father Daryl, the two-year-old was purchased at the APG yearling sales in 2020, where it was decided that Dean would take the horse home for educating. It was then that Miller discovered he had a nice horse in his care.

“When Dean broke him in, he was tickled pink with him, and I thought I might reuse the name. I wasn’t sure if they would accept it, but after seventy odd years, I thought they might,”

“It’s Miller spelt backwards, and it’s been hanging up in front of my eyes, all of my life,”

“So, I thought I’d wait until I think I’ve got one that’s got the ability and rename him with the Miller name.” Daryl Miller said.

Rellim has now had 13 starts for one win and seven placings, with his win a real family affair, with Mitchell Miller piloting the youngest to victory at Pinjarra on the 1^st of November.

“It was good to have Dad, Mitch and I all involved in his first win,”

“We had hoped to get it again (the name Rellim) and we did, so hoping he can be a successful horse for the family and bring us some joy.”

“Pretty much from day one he was really no fuss, didn’t care about anything when breaking him in. Learnt very quickly and was a natural pacer. Once we got him to the track and he could move along a bit, he definitely felt like a nice horse.” Dean Miller said.

“Just try to win as many races as we can and hopefully keep him going around for many years to come.”

The original Rellim, a winner of the 1952 Great Southern Derby, was born in 1948 by the stallion Wilfred and out of an un-named mare by La Fayette NZ and was bred, owned, and trained by Ross Miller.  After winning the Great Southern Derby, it was decided to geld the then colt, but after a complication during the routine procedure, the horse was never the same and it put an end to the career of the handy youngster. Rellim had around 15 starts and was retired as a three-year-old.

“We had a painting, as there were no photographers around in those days, just the photos you took yourselves, and dad had a painting done of him. They took a photo of him in front of the grandstand at Narrogin on the night of the Derby and she (unknown) did a portrait painting of him and that’s been hanging up on the loungeroom wall, pride of place ever since that day.”

“Dad always said he was a nice horse and they never saw the best of him.”  Daryl said.

Daryl is hoping that they can take out the Great Southern Derby next year with their Rellim, and what makes the whole situation that bit more special for the Miller family is the fact that both horses have raced and won in the same colours. When Dean made his training debut in 13/14 he adopted his grandfather’s original colours of blue and gold quarters, with Daryl Miller using his late father’s final set of colours as his own.

Rellim is engaged to race on Tuesday the 23^rd of November at Gloucester Park in race eight, where he has drawn barrier two for Dean Miller.

Ashleigh Paikos