Miller Takes Patient Approach With Variation
Quality galloper Variation is on track for his comeback following a return to the track today.
Variation ran second in a barrier trial at Lark Hill, his first public appearance in four months.
The War Chant six-year-old has been dogged by persistent feet problems since his triumph in the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) three years ago.
A hoof abscess that turned into a bad infection kept him out of last year’s Ascot carnival and a Melbourne autumn campaign was scrapped.
Variation, trained by Stephen Miller, hasn’t raced since his third placing to Mizlecki in the Listed Old Comrade Stakes (1600m) at Ascot in April.
Miller said Variation was progressing well, but insists he will take a cautious approach with his stable flag bearer.
“It all depends on how he pulls up from the trial,” Miller told The Races WA.
“He seems to have come through it quite well, but I won’t know more until later.
“Brad (Parnham) told me after the trial he felt pretty good.
“It was his first gallop and he’s had hiccups which we are getting on top of.
“It’s been a long process.
“He might need another trial or we go into feature winter sprints.
“But he won’t be going to the Hannans, that won’t be happening.”
In 20 appearances Variation has won seven races and been placed on 10 occasions for stake earnings of $703,950.
He is the only horse to win the WA Guineas-Belmont double.
Julio Santarelli