Miller Gets Early Double On Final Day
8 December, 2018
Thoroughbred
Market Ruler has relished a drop back in class to take out the Tourism WA Trophy (1000m), leading home an early double for trainer Simon Miller.
The Universal Ruler filly was dropping back from the 1400m of the Listed Burgess Queen Stakes to the short course distance today and looked the winner a long way from home.
Aided by a brilliant ride from Damian Lane, Market Ruler settled behind leader Fire And Rain throughout, before Lane found clear running room inside the final 200m and go on to score a comfortable one length win.
Miller said he was pleased with how the filly handled the drop back in distance and suggested she might not quite be ready for blacktype racing yet.
“She did a really good job,” he said.
“Having Frosty (Lane) on board as well, he was able to sum up what was happening around him.
“I know what we’ve got in our stable and I gave her a crack at them (Listed races) but they’re better than her.”
Alpha Sky completed the second leg of Miller’s early double, taking out the Quayclean Handicap (1000m) first-up.
Jockey Patrick Carbery had to weave between horses in the straight and eventually found a clear run along the fence in the last 100m.
Shackleton, who was also first-up, hit the front briefly, but Carbery was able to time his run perfectly and win by a nose.
Miller said he was pleasantly surprised by Alpha Sky’s performance and felt he may not have the sprint to match his rivals.
“I thought the 1000m would be too short for him, but they were rocking along,” he said.
“The gaps appeared and he didn’t end up going around too many horses.
“He’s a good horse this guy, his coat’s not through yet and I think he will be better over further.”
Meanwhile, Damian Lan bought up his early winning double aboard the Adam Durrant-trained Candlelight Star in the Vale Bill Doughty Handicap (1200m).
Tim Walker