Having gathered his breath after being gassed by a record-smashing Keystone Del, Michael Thomas is nicely drawn and favoured by the standing start for Saturday’s McIvor Estate Kilmore Trotters Cup.
The Lisa Miles trained and driven nine-year-old gelding was a 70m eighth when Keystone Del blitzed their Pryde’s EasiFeed Great Southern Star heat, with Michael Thomas taken well outside his comfort zone.
“We just had to chase Keystone Del and never really got a chance to settle,” Miles told RSN’s Inside Word. “The speed didn’t back off at any stage at all and it was just an absolutely ripping mile rate.”
LISTEN TO LISA MILES’ FULL INTERVIEW ON RSN INSIDE WORD
Tomorrow’s cup at Kilmore promises to be more to Michael Thomas’ liking, not least because of his gate one draw.
“The 1:53.7 rattled him a little bit last weekend, back to the stand he’s more comfortable and we have a great draw,” Miles said.
“He’s better suited to the stand where he has a little bit longer to find his feet. I don’t think the distance will bother him at all.”
WATCH JASON BONNINGTON AND BLAKE REDDEN BREAK DOWN KILMORE CUP DAY
Before the Great Southern Star heat, Michael Thomas saluted in the Haras Des Trotteurs Trotters Handicap at Tabcorp Park Melton on March 4, and should be well suited to the Group 3 country cup.
“Racing in Victoria these days is so competitive, everything has to go your way, be it the draws and start. If we can get a clean getaway and settle into it it will be a great help,” Miles said.
“He’s great in front, he’s different in front. He’s a really well balanced trotter when they are not breaking track records.”
Backmarker Claudys Princess will come off 20m for Mick Blackmore, while Sun Of Anarchy will come from gate three and likely give a sight after a very impressive Great Southern Star heat for trainer Gavin Lang.
The 8.33pm trotters cup precedes the Jet Roofing Kilmore Pacing Cup at 9.30pm, where a stellar field is coveting the Group 2.
Beautide’s entry has dominated discussion, but Anthony Butt, who will drive Ohoka Punter, said his six-year-old gave Smolda a scare in the Hunter Cup and, if it finds the front from gate four, “we wouldn’t be handing over the race”.
Nestled outside Beautide on the draw in gate seven is Charlton Pacing Cup winner Jadahson, one of three Emma Stewart runners who Mark Pitt will drive.
“There’s a lot of speed inside, so we will just go back and hope for a track into it,” Pitt told RSN’s Inside Word.
“(Jadahson’s) pretty versatile. He can do his own fair share of work and be pretty quick off a sit. It’s a really good race and I think he will be thereabout somewhere as long as he gets the right run.
“There are some really nice horses in it and it’s a privilege to get a drive in a race like that.”
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