‘I WASN’T EXPECTING TO SALUTE’
Jockey’s stunning admission before incredible finish sees Mayameen claim the Sprint
“I DIDN’T expect her to be that close”.
That was the stunning admission of jockey Simon Miller after Mayameen’s incredible late surge on the straight saw her claim a breathtaking $135,000 bet365 Palmerston Sprint (1200) at Fannie Bay.
In what was an incredible performance for a filly just three years old, she showed up a crack field of sprinters to take out the Territory’s biggest shortdistance race.
And she did all her best work after the turn, pipping Jason Manning’s Niewand (jockey Vanessa Arnott) at the post for Chris Nash, saluting by just a third of a length.
“I didn’t expect her to be that close (at the turn),” Miller said of the $7 hope.
“For a three-year-old filly to do that in a field full of seasoned campaigners was pretty amazing.
“I wasn’t that confident going into the race with the barrier (10) that she drew because her starts can be a bit tardy.
“But she started well.
“(On the straight) I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”
Miller – who rode a double after saluting on Stephen Brown’s Dream Weaver in the race four $21,000 Aertex Maiden (1200m) – rated Saturday’s victory one of the best of his career.
“I haven’t ridden in many big races like this one before, so it’s one of the biggest of my career,” he said.
“I’ve been racing for 15 or 16 years. “But I’ve got a few rides on Cup Day on Monday, so I can’t get too carried away.”
Miller knew he had one of the top chances after finishing third on Mayameen in the $22,000 Ladbroke It Handicap (1000m) on June 19.
“I rode her a few weeks ago and she finished three deep in third and was happy with her,” he said.
Despite picking up his only two wins of the 2021 Darwin Cup Carnival on Saturday, it has been a move to the Top End well worth it for the veteran hoop.
“I’ll ride on Monday, then Alice Springs next Saturday, then it’s back to chilly Canberra,” Miller said. “I’ve loved the lifestyle in Darwin. “I’ve never ridden trackwork during at this time of year in a T-shirt before.
“I’ll be back.”
Nash certainly made the right call by trusting Mayameen that she would be competitive in the Territory’s most lucrative annual sprint race.
“He looks like a genius now,” Miller said.
And Miller staggeringly did not think much of the young sprinter when he first laid eyes on her, making Nash’s judgment all the more astute.
“I got up here two months ago, and she was fat and hairy when I first saw her,” Miller said.
“I couldn’t believe she had two wins (in Darwin at that stage).
“She’s shown a heap of improvement.”
Phil Cole Pioneer Sprint winner Smuggling (Jason Maskiell) finished a gutsy third after being in the mix all race.
One of the pre-race favourites The Captain (Jarrod Todd) finished way back in 10th after being edged out on the line by stablemate Enigman in last year’s edition.