Simon Miller’s outstanding run of success with two-year-olds continued when promising filly High Conviction defied a betting drift to win the Tabtouch Plate (1000m) at Belmont on Saturday.
Miller has been the master trainer of juveniles this season, preparing 13 winners from eight individual starters including Whispering Brook, Swedish Memories, Speeding Comet, Guest Express, Atacama Sky, Unmarked Bills and Slick Sam.
Unbeaten filly, Whispering Brook, headlined a stellar cast, posting five consecutive wins, culminating with the Karrakatta Plate-Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) double in April.
Miller rates High Conviction as his best two-year-old behind, Whispering Brook, a glowing endorsement after her Karrakatta Plate ambitions were dealt a blow on debut.
After a horror beginning when her saddle shifted soon after the start, jockey, Jason Brown lost a stirrup iron and was forced to ease High Conviction out of the race.
The daughter of Snitzel cast aside her Karrakatta Plate disappointment and vindicated Miller’s faith when she stormed back to post a dominant victory at Belmont on June 1.
Yesterday, High Conviction, started at $3.30 after drifting alarmingly from her opening quote of $1.60 and despite being trapped wide with cover early she sprinted powerfully from fourth on the corner for jockey, Paul Harvey.
She shot past first starter, Carnelian, inside the final 200m and held out, Dainty Tess, who was heavily backed into favouritism by ¾ of a length, with, Carnelian holding on for third, a further two lengths adrift.
Miller predicts a bright future for High Conviction, but is undecided whether to extend her campaign or save her up for feature races at the Ascot carnival later in the year.
“It was pain free viewing and past the post she steamed through the line really well and put them to the sword,” Miller said.
“There is so much upside to her and she will only get better as they go further.
“I will possibly entertain giving her one more run, otherwise we will spell her and come straight back for the Belgravia Stakes.
“Once you see her over 1200m she will come into her own.”
Exciting three-year-old Vega Magic is one win away from breaking a Westspeed bonus record after taking out the Vale Hana Dickson Handicap (1200m).
The gelding’s 2 ¼ length victory over It’s It boosted his Westspeed bonus earnings to $147,500, just shy of the $167,500 record set by Sheidel.