Take The Miki showed a lot of talent as a three-year-old with trainers Steven Reid and Simon McMullan and he won two races in a row in 2022. Disaster struck on his next start, however, when the cranky chair went adrift, throwing Reid from the cart and disqualifying the horse.
TAKE THE MIKI – SULKY ACCIDENT REPETITION
After that accident, Take The Miki achieved a second and third place finish before the owners decided to send him to Australian trainer Luke McCarthy.
“They wanted to make him something special, make him a big track horse and help their broodmare. McCarthy really liked him and I think he tried out there in 1-51. A few weeks later a leg exploded,” Stapleton said.
The owners flew the horse back to Auckland and he was driven south to Rakaia, where he has been ever since.
“It’s been a long affair. I pulled out most of my hair and I didn’t have much before I started! He’s been working off and on. I tried a prep on him and it didn’t work, but he’s healthy.”
In preparation for his return to the races, Stapleton has taken Take The Miki to two training sessions at Methven.
“He’s really suited to the grass. He’s a huge, big horse, bloody, almost eighteen hands.”
And in recognition of the six-year-old’s time away from race days, HRNZ has granted a handicap concession.
“Obviously he’s not going to reach the heights he initially seemed to be reaching, so they’ve been kind to him.”
Stapleton, who has patched up many unsound horses, says bringing Take The Miki back to the races has been one of his biggest challenges.
“A few times over the last two or three years I’ve looked in the mirror and thought, what the hell are you doing? Anyway, we’ve got him there and put it this way: If he won, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
Through Bruce Stewartfor Harnesslink
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