Racing: Great start for Miller

Ingrid Miller after her first win yesterday at Ascot Park. Photo by Robyn Parkes.
Ingrid Miller after her first win yesterday at Ascot Park. Photo by Robyn Parkes.
Ingrid Miller had a great start to her race-riding career when she won on her two rides, including Relampago in the $15,000 Wairio Cup, at Ascot Park yesterday.

Miller (18) won at her first race ride when she partnered Theruler three races earlier.

Miller is apprenticed to Ben and Sally Gordon, the Ascot Park trainers of Theruler and Relampago.

"It is the first time we have been able to get a claim (4kg) for Relampago and Ingrid knew the horse through working him, so it was ideal," Sally Gordon said.

Miller has been with the stable for 18 months. Her previous experience with horses was at pony club level.

Relampago wore the green and white colours carried by several Wairio Cup winners raced by Bill Hazlett. They included Hazy Light, the 1967 winner ridden by Mike Lawson, now an assistant stipendiary steward.

The club then raced at Riverton. Gunther, owned and trained by Hazlett, won the Wairio Cup at Wairio in 1947 when it was a hack race.

Relampago is raced by Hazlett's son, Bill, wife Alison, Colin Ashby, of Cromwell and Graham Hill, of Lake Hayes.

Relampago stumbled and lost his rider when in front at the last fence in a hurdles race at Riverton at his previous start.

"His rider thought he was going to win. He will continue his jumping career when we can find a better track," Gordon said.

The last two races were abandoned yesterday due to poor visibility.

• Chris O'Brien, the former Wingatui jockey, had another listed race win on Sincero in the $A250,000 Scone Guineas on Saturday.

It was the sixth straight win for Sincero, who is trained by Stephen Farley at Wyong.

O'Brien said the five-length win of Sincero in the $A250,000 Gosford Guineas on April 25 was a highlight of his career.

"I rode a couple of group two winners (1996 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes on Diablo Girl) in New Zealand, but I haven't found a horse like this one," O'Brien said.

Sincero, who cost $8000 at an Inglis yearling sale, has his next start in the QTC Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on June 4.

He is favourite for the $1 million Stradbroke Handicap (1600m) there a week later. Glen Boss has been approached to take the mount due to the light weight Sincero will be given.

• Lisa Whelan was suspended until midnight on Friday for careless riding at New Plymouth on Saturday. Whelan, riding Adeni, was found to have caused tightening to Excuseable on the home turn.

 

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