Mikis Pride shines, fresh-up

Star reinsman Shannon Suvaljko lauded astute trainer Mike Reed for his ability to produce his pacers in top shape for their first-up assignments after driving the Reed-trained Mikis Pride to a splendid victory in the $27,000 Thank You Gino Monaco Pace over 2536m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Making his first appearance after a seven-week absence, Mikis Pride was a $17.80 chance from barrier two on the back line, with Waverider the $2 favourite from the No. 4 barrier on the front line.

Cams Boulder ($23) dashed to an early lead, while Mikis Pride settled down in eighth place and was seventh in the one-wide line at the bell before he unleashed a powerful burst, out wide, to get up in the final couple of strides to beat $8.50 chance Insta Gator, who, after enjoying a perfect trail in the one-out, one-back position, took the lead 30m from the post. Waverider raced in the breeze before taking the lead 110m from home and then wilting to finish fifth.

The final three quarters were run in 29.8sec., 27.7sec. and 29sec. and Mikis Pride rated 1.56.3.

“Mick (Reed) always has his horses spot on for their first-up runs,” said Suvaljko. “Mikis Pride proved his versatility tonight. He can lead; he can sit or go to the breeze. Tonight, sitting him up and going 1.56.3 shows he is a good horse.

“I’ll have plenty to think about when choosing which horse to drive in the feature events for four-year-olds later this year. The Reed stable has outstanding four-year-olds in Bettors Pride, Mikis Pride, Water Lou and Lion Queen. And there are many other good four-year-olds.

“Probably Bettors Pride is better than Mikis Pride because he has superior gate speed. Mikis Pride has good gate speed, but Bettors Pride flies out. It will take a good horse to beat Bettors Pride or Mikis Pride if either horse leads in a race.”

Suvaljko also was fulsome in his praise of Bettors Pride, who finished a close third behind Sweet Vivienne and Hillview Bondi in a 2130m event on Friday night. Bettors Pride began out wide at barrier eight and was eighth early and sixth at the bell.

“If I didn’t get pushed five wide down the back Bettors Pride probably would have won,” said Suvaljko. “He hit the line better than anything and would have come home in 27sec. flat.”

MIKIS PRIDE REPLAY

Suvaljko completed a double when he drove $5.70 chance Take A Hike to victory in the $21,000 Rex Far Too Good Pace, rating a slow 2.1.2 over the 2130m trip.

Take A Hike began from barrier seven and surged forward three wide early to race in the breeze outside the pacemaker and $1.80 favourite Local Resident. Take A Hike got on terms with Local Resident 400m from home and went on to score by just under a length from $41 outsider Fireplay, with $61 chance Hotfoot It running on into third place.

Suvaljko revealed that owner-trainer Robin Zec wanted him to go back at the start and take a sit with Take A Hike. “But the pace was so slow (with a lead time of 38.3sec.) and I knew that there was no breeze horse in the race that I decided to go forward where I knew I would be able to control the race from the breeze,” he said.

The 73-year-old Zec bought Take A Hike for $10,000 last November, and the seven-year-old has now had 13 starts in WA for two wins, five placings and $24,290. Take A Hike won once from 27 New Zealand starts and his 46 runs in New South Wales produced two wins and 16 placings. He has earned $89,142 from five wins and 28 placings from 86 starts.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Ken Casellas, for Gloucester Park