Tricky Miki Delivers Prentice Surprise Slipper Win
Tricky Miki has given trainer-driver Justin Prentice a second straight win in the Choices Flooring-Golden Slipper (2130m) with a devastating performance at Gloucester Park last night.
The gelding made an early attempt for the lead after Swingband galloped out in the early stages but couldn’t hold out Whataretheodds.
Prentice was forced to settle behind Whataretheodds, who took up the lead.
He was able to get off the pegs on the turn for home and run down Whataretheodds in the home straight to score a dominant 7.5m win.
It ended Aiden De Campo’s stranglehold on the two-year-old ranks this season, after he took out Sales Classic, Pearl Classic and Westbred Classic with Floewriter, The Miki Taker and Rock On Top respectively.
Prentice said he was surprised by Tricky Miki’s progress throughout the past few months and admitted he didn’t think he could win this year’s Slipper.
“Two to three months ago I definitely didn’t think I had a Slipper horse,” Prentice told TABradio.
“He’s done a massive job to get where he has.
“I’m super proud of him to put it all together on the big stage.”
WATCH – The 2021 Golden Slipper
Whataretheodds battled on gamely to record his fourth top five finish in Group 1 company as a two-year-old, while New Zealand import You’re So Fine finished third.
The Golden Slipper win continued a remarkable run for Prentice, who took his Group 1 win tally to 20 last night.
Last night’s win came less than three months after last year’s Golden Slipper winner scored an emotional win in the WA Derby.
Prentice said he hoped Tricky Miki could emulate Mighty Ronaldo’s feat of winning the WA Derby when he returned as a three-year-old.
“He’s going to have a break now and hopefully come back and improve that bit more,” he said.
“Ideally that (WA Derby) is always the plan you pencil in when you have a nice two-year-old.
“This is his first prep after having four months off.
“He came back in and he had a little hiccup and had to tip him back out again.
“He’s done an enormous job to get to winning the Slipper that’s for sure and he deserves the break.”
Prentice’s other runner in the race Tomlous Jambo finished fourth and said he was “extremely happy” with his performance.
Meanwhile, Aiden De Campo said connections would need to “drag him out of the seat” to get him off Shockwave as he builds towards a Victoria Cup campaign.
Shockwave sat outside the in-form Mighty Conqueror and was able to get over the top of him by a half-neck.
De Campo said the Ryan Bell-trained pacer was getting better and better.
“He was so relaxed tonight,” he said.
“That’s what he’s like when he’s in the zone and gets a couple of runs under his belt.
“I was a little bit worried at the bell because he wasn’t travelling as well as the previous week.
“I showed him the stick and he just changed gears.”
Tim Walker
WATCH – Shockwave’s win last night.