Trainer Simon Miller experienced a bittersweet day yesterday, riding an emotional rollercoaster in Melbourne and Perth
Miller experienced the high of winning the feature race at Ascot, the Arlec Australia-Belgravia Stakes (1200m), with talented filly, Caipirinha.
The daughter of Nicconi gave Miller the second leg of a double after Swedish Memories swept to victory in the LWP Property Group Plate (1500m).
The low came earlier in the afternoon at Moonee Valley when his gun filly, Whispering Brook, was a late scratching in the Group 2 Super Vase (2400m).
Last season’s leading Perth juvenile hasn’t enjoyed the best of luck in her maiden interstate campaign and her VRC Oaks assault has ended.
“It was a real day of emotions,” Miller said.
“My main concern was to see if she was alright and once she returned to the mounting yard and was ok it was relief.
“She has taken no harm out of the incident and it didn’t rattle her, but the Oaks is now out of the question.
“We now regroup and she will go to next week’s Myer Classic where she should get in with a light weight.”
Miller said Caipirinha, who started a $2.90 favourite, was a promising filly that deserved her victory.
Ridden by Joe Azzopardi, Caipirinha sat outside of The Celt and then The River before dashing to the lead inside the final 200m.
She let down brilliantly with a sharp sprint in the straight and had enough in hand to hold out the fast finishing, Saul’s Special.
One length separated the pair with a further 1 ¼ lengths to Get Over It, the gelding peaking on his first-up run to finish third.
The Celt, racing first-up off a 70-day break, needed the hit out and faded to sixth.
Caipirinha shed her maiden status after five starts. She ran third in the Gimcrack Stakes (1100m) and fourth in the Karrakatta Plate (1200m) behind stable mate, Whispering Brook last season.
“She deserved this win because been knocking on the door,” Miller said.
“It was a really good win and I thought she ran really well.”
Miller claimed his second success in the Belgravia Stakes after preparing Miss Solis to victory in 2012.
He said Caipirinha would press ahead and contest the Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on November 1.
julio santarelli