Always B Miki pair claim Victoria Oaks and Derby heats
Always B Miki looks to have a strong hand in this weekendʻs Victoria Oaks and Derby Finals with some impressive performances by his progeny at Melton on Saturday night.
In the first of the Victoria Derby heats Miki To Success franked his last start Group 1 Vicbred Super Series win, reeling in his stablemate Some American in the straight to nab him on the line.
It was the quicker of the two Derby heats, with Miki To Success rating a smart 1:55.7 for the last mile of the 2760m.
Kingman, also by Always B Miki, was a close third after sitting parked for the last mile.
In winning, Miki To Success recorded his eighth career win and took his earnings to $148,900.
He is out of an Elsu mare in Jo Louleonie, a half-sister to the Group 1 winners Majestic Cruiser and Bus To Harland.
In the opening Victoria Oaks heat Aardie B Miki proved too good after leading for the majority of the race.
Shrugging off Draw A Dream, who had over-raced on her outside for much of the trip, Aardie B Miki then held off Eureka Jo late in the piece to score by just over a metre at the line, with fellow Always B Miki filly Kiss filling third spot.
The winner of the Queensland Oaks in July, Aardie B Miki has now won six races and banked $179,872 in stakes earnings.
Bred by Mike Tanev, she is out of the Rocknroll Hanover mare Tatijana Bromac.
Aardie B Mikiʻs older full sister, and fellow Group 1 winner, Aardieʻs Express was also in the winnerʻs circle over the weekend, notching up her 19th win in the Frith Stakes at Menangle on Saturday night.
In North America, it was another daughter of Always B Miki, Sylvia Hanover, that made headlines over the weekend, with the two-time Dan Patch Award winner setting a new track record at The Red Mile for 4-year-old pacing mares when claiming the Allerage Farms Fillies and Mares Open in a career best time of 1:47.6.
It was her 20th win and took her career earnings to $2,157,975.