SMALL PRICKLES READY
THE well-travelled Prickles is only small but Cairns trainer Rodney Miller expects his new mare to fly around the Far North.
The five-year-old has seen plenty of Australia in her short life, racing in New South Wales, the Northern Territory and South Australia before recently moving to Queensland and landing at Cannon Park.
Miller, a former Victorian who has just over a handful of horses in his stable, was surprised at how small Prickles was when she walked off the truck but says size does not matter, speed does on race day.
The mare will make her Queensland debut in the $19,000 Open Handicap over 950m this afternoon at Cannon Park.
“She goes really, really good, but she is very, very tiny, was what I was told before she came up,” Miller said.
“She left Adelaide on a Tuesday, got here on the Sunday, and when I saw her and how tiny she was I nearly died.
“But, some of her runs in Darwin, they were fantastic.”
Lloyd Kennewell trained Prickles to two victories from five starts in South Australia over the back end of 2018, with both wins coming at Gawler.
All four of her career wins have been between 1000m and 1200m, so the 950m journey around Cairns Jockey Club will suit Prickles today, as she is having her first run since late October.
Experienced hoop Shane Pawsey takes the ride for Miller this afternoon, with just 54kg on her back.
“There is not much racing around this time of year so we will put her in the Open this Thursday and find out a bit more about her,” Miller said.
“She is going well, I am very happy with her. I will be interested to see how she goes but she may need a run.”
Miller also starts Agility in the Maiden Plate (1250m) and is expecting a bold run, after finishing third last start at Townsville.
He says the booking of Brad Pengelly to ride Agility will be a big boost for the gelding.
Meanwhile, 28-start maiden Buxton will be out to finally break through in the $19,000 Maiden Plate after running second at Townsville earlier this month.
SHE GOES REALLY, REALLY GOOD, BUT SHE IS VERY, VERY TINY, WAS WHAT I WAS TOLD BEFORE SHE CAME UP. CAIRNS TRAINER RODNEY MILLER