The Chris Waller-trained Mr Miller displayed his considerable class with a dominant win in the Bankstown Sports Handicap (1500m).
While the race was only a benchmark 78, Mr Miller is clearly a horse with stakes potential and will be given an opportunity to qualify for the Group 1 $1.5 million Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 3.
With Waller in attendance at Caulfield for the Memsie Stakes meeting, stable representative Darren Beadman praised the colt.
“Mr Miller should be five (wins) from five (starts),” Beadman stated. “He’s a very push-button type of horse and puts himself into the right spots in his races. He has the turn of foot to put them away quickly.”
Mr Miller ($1.90 favourite) did just that under the ride of Tommy Berry, drawing clear to win by three lengths from stablemate Invader Zim ($61), with Silvanito ($31) running third.
Jockey Tommy Berry, despite battling a severe case of influenza, had already ridden three winners from the first five races on the program, following earlier successes on Transcend and Zalique.
“I certainly don’t feel like I’ve ridden three winners,” Berry said. “But it is worth it when you get to ride nice horses like Mr Miller.
“He’s a real natural, this bloke. He’s very fast out of the machines then as soon as you put him in a spot, he switches off.
“I loved how he picked up around the bend and he feels like he has so many gears.
“He hit the front a long way out and wanted to have a look around but I still made him find the line as he will be up against bigger races and stronger opposition soon.”
The four-year-old son of Almanzor, Mr Miller, was having only his fifth start, recording his third win to add to two previous unlucky second placings.
TAB Fixed Odds assessors significantly reduced his odds for the Epsom Handicap to $11, placing him as an equal third favourite. He is now behind unbeaten New Zealand mare Well Written at $4.50 and Autumn Boy at $6.
Beadman indicated that Mr Miller’s current rating might be insufficient to gain entry into the Epsom. However, Waller could consider qualifying races such as the Cameron Handicap, Bill Ritchie Handicap, or Shannon Stakes to secure a start in the feature Randwick mile.
“I think his rating might be too low to get into an Epsom at the moment but he could get there through one of those qualifying races,” Beadman added. “Chris has given him plenty of time and everything this horse has done so far has been very impressive.
“He is certainly a horse that is getting everyone to take notice of him.”
With the Epsom Handicap drawing closer, the betting action is intensifying. You can explore the racing betting markets for the best odds and opportunities.
