Star driver Deni Roberts is looking forward to handling evergreen stayer Minstrel in the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup on December 12, but she considers that the eight-year-old’s young stablemate Justcallmemiki is a worthy contender in the big race.
She drove the big four-year-old New Zealand-bred Justcallmemiki, prepared by champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond, to an effortless victory in the $31,000 Ashes Test Match Then To The Trots Pace over 2536m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“It was a really good run after a pretty soft lead time (69.3sec.),” said Roberts. Justcallmemiki, the $1.80 favourite, began quickly from out wide at barrier seven and burst to the front after 700m before setting the pace and beating his stablemate Gee Heza Sport ($2.75) by just under three lengths, rating 1.57.9 after final quarters of 28.4sec. and 27.7sec.
“We got to the front more comfortably than I thought I would,” said Roberts. “He felt so good in front, and if he could draw to lead in the Pacing Cup, he would run a very quick time out in front. He did it so easily tonight.”
Justcallmemiki won at four of his 12 starts in New Zealand and his seven wins and two seconds from 12 WA outings have boosted his career record to 24 starts for 11 wins, four placings and stakes of $250,487.
He is by American sire Always b Miki and is the fifth foal out of Mach Three mare Famous Alchemist, who earned $322,869 from 16 wins and 16 placings from 51 starts. Her 11 wins in WA included the group 3 WASBA Breeders Stakes in May 2014.
Gee Heza Sport also run an excellent Cup trial. He began from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line and settled down in last position in the field of twelve before Stuart McDonald sent him forward with a three-wide burst after a lap to move to the breeze.
He fought on gamely to finish second, and McDonald said he would dearly love to drive the seven-year-old in the Pacing Cup.
“His was a very good run tonight,” said McDonald. “He has a good record in big races in which he’s probably better off not being one of the fancies, and that means he could be a bit of a sniper. I think that’s his best role when he comes up against Magnificent Storm, Minstrel and Mister Smartee.”
McDonald was a shining light in the sulky on Friday night, landing a treble with Chasing Rex (trained by Gary Hall jnr), and the Gary Hall senior-trained Mister Smartee and Her Presence, and finishing second with Gee Heza Sport and third with Madam Publisher.
“Chasing Rex went super in the Golden Nugget last week (finishing eighth) and I’ve been looking after him in the past fortnight while Junior was in New Zealand,” said McDonald after driving Chasing Rex ($1.30) to a one-length win over the fast-finishing Flyin Disco ($26) in the 2130m Camel Time After The Cricket Pace.
Chasing Rex surged to the front after about 500m and went on to win comfortably at a 1.57.2 rate after a final quarter of 28.5sec.
Her Presence ($4) enjoyed a perfect trip in the one-out, one-back position before finishing strongly to win the 2130m Free Entry After The Cricket Pace by two lengths from the pacemaker Stormyskyes ($4.20).
