3 minute read

Debutant Miracle Bay lived up to his sparkling trial form with a first-up win on Sunday.

The three-year-old by little-known sire Artie Schiller had put the writing on the wall when he won his two barrier trials for trainer Cliff Brown last month. Jockey Danny Beasley was aboard on both occasions, but could not do the honours on raceday as he was currently serving a suspension.

Brown engaged the services of French jockey Olivier Placais, who did not let the opportunity go begging with a faultless display aboard the $17 second favourite.

Lined up in a small seven-horse field, Miracle Bay began well to track up leader Bold Bid (John Sundradas) before putting the acid on at the top of the straight. Mircale Bay shot clear and looked all home and hosed but started to shorten strides close home allowing the odds-on favourite Man Of Substance (Soo Khoon Beng) to narrow the gap to three parts of a length of the line.

Completing the podium was Full Site (Shafiq Rusof) who finished third a big gap away to further demonstrate the clear superiority of the first two runners. The winning time was 1min 5.5secs for the 1100m journey of the Restricted Maiden (2&3YO) race on Polytrack.

Placais was sorry for his colleague Beasley but was philosophical about such situations.

“I'm very sorry for Danny as he's done all the work on this horse, but I got the chance and I grabbed it with both hands,” said Placais.

“That's racing - his loss, my gain. Next time, it could be me who is stood down and someone else will pick up the win.

“This horse was hanging in a bit towards the end and was getting tired, but that was because he was still very green.

“He will be 10 times better in the future. He is just like that other young horse I rode the other day – Greenstone – still 60% of their full ability and mentally still not right.

“What I am also very happy is the race panned out exactly the way we wanted.

“I discussed with (stable supervisor) Tim (Fitzsimmons) before the race and we thought it would be best to not let No 1 (Bold Bid) run three lengths clear.

“We were three-quarter-length behind and that was just nice. He have a nice kick in the home straight and fell in on time.”

Fitzsimmons said Miracle Bay's win was expected given he had shown ability on the tracks.

“He trialled good, won both trials and we were expecting a good run today. The boss will be happy,” said the stable supervisor to Brown who is currently in England to buy horses.

“He's an easy horse to train but it's a pity Danny could not ride him as he's done all the work on him. I'm sure he will get his chance anyway.”

Miracle Bay is raced by relative newcomer Tivic Stable, whose first winner with Brown came with super longshot Thisisit who scored at debut at massive odds of $494 last Friday week.

“They are a bunch of local owners and have five horses with us. It's good to see them enjoying success early,” said Fitzsimmons.

“This horse is by a relatively new sire, but he's had a few winners in Australia already. He's out of a Danehill mare.”