The Chris Waller-trained Mr Miller showcased his class with a commanding victory in the Bankstown Sports Handicap (1500m).
Despite being a benchmark 78 event, Mr Miller demonstrated the qualities of a potential stakes winner and is set to be considered for a start in the prestigious Group 1 $1.5 million Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 3.
With Waller attending the Memsie Stakes meeting at Caulfield, stable representative Darren Beadman lauded the colt, describing him as a “lovely horse”.
“Mr Miller should be five (wins) from five (starts),” Beadman stated. “He’s a very push-button type of horse and puts himself into the right spots in his races. He has the turn of foot to put them away quickly.”
The favourite, Mr Miller ($1.90), executed this perfectly under jockey Tommy Berry, pulling away to win by three lengths. He finished ahead of stablemate Invader Zim ($61), with Silvanito ($31) securing third place.
Berry, despite battling a severe case of influenza, had already secured three wins from the opening five races on the card, having previously saluted on Transcend and Zalique.
“I certainly don’t feel like I’ve ridden three winners,” Berry commented. “But it is worth it when you get to ride nice horses like Mr Miller.
“He’s a real natural, this bloke. He’s very fast out of the machines then as soon as you put him in a spot, he switches off.
“I loved how he picked up around the bend and he feels like he has so many gears.
“He hit the front a long way out and wanted to have a look around but I still made him find the line as he will be up against bigger races and stronger opposition soon.”
This victory marked the third win for Mr Miller, a four-year-old son of Almanzor, in just his fifth career start, adding to two previous unlucky second placings.
TAB Fixed Odds reacted swiftly, halving his odds for the Epsom Handicap to $11, placing him as joint third favourite. He now sits behind the unbeaten New Zealand mare Well Written ($4.50) and Autumn Boy ($6).
Beadman indicated that Mr Miller would need to improve his handicap rating to gain entry into the Epsom. However, Waller might target qualifying races such as the Cameron Handicap, Bill Ritchie Handicap, or Shannon Stakes to secure a start in the feature Randwick mile.
“I think his rating might be too low to get into an Epsom at the moment but he could get there through one of those qualifying races,” Beadman added. “Chris has given him plenty of time and everything this horse has done so far has been very impressive.
“He is certainly a horse that is getting everyone to take notice of him.”
The Epsom Handicap is shaping up to be a thrilling contest this year, with punters keen to get involved early. You can find the latest racing odds at Australian betting sites.