KZN trainer Mike Miller got one back for the hometown at World Pool Gold Cup day on Sunday when Gimmethegreenlight daughter Just Reckless upstaged Sean Tarry’s Highveld raider Rodeo Drive to win the R500 000 World Pool With Gold Circle Gr2 Debutante.
Just Reckless powers home under jockey Tristan Godden (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Previously contested as The Debutante, the 1200m race for 2yo fillies saw Rodeo Drive priced up as a well supported favourite under Richard Fourie.
But the daughter of The United States, despite being given every chance, as she moved up and was being hailed a winner at the 250m, was emphatically cut down to size by the Mike Miller charge.
Defying the expectations that everybody would be winning from the front, the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes winner Just Reckless (15-2) powered home from seven lengths off the gallop to beat the 6-10 Rodeo Drive by 1,90 lengths in a time of 70,47 secs for the 1200m.
Gqeberha visitor Gavin Smith would have been delighted by the performance of Happy Holly (10-1), who stayed on for third a further 1,90 lengths back.
Sorting Post-sponsored jockey Tristan Godden said that the 1200m contest looked weaker than the mile alternative on the day, and that things had panned out well after Just Reckless had switched off early.
Raced by The Racing Boys (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mr Omer Iqbal) and the trainer’s son Sterling M Miller, the winner was bred by Boland Stud and is another very smart daughter of champion Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of the Silvano mare, Sommersonne, who won once.
A R500 000 KZN Yearling Sale purchase, Just Reckless has now won 4 races with 4 places from 9 starts for stakes of R802 750.
