Big things predicted for debut winner Miami Fleiss after runaway victory at Doomben

Nathan Exelby looks back at Doomben’s Saturday meeting and speaks to Michael Rodd and Tony Gollan about monster debut winner Miami Fleiss.

Georgie Cartwright produced a gem of a ride on Bleu Zebra at Doomben. Picture: Trackside Photography

Tony Gollan feared boom filly Miami Fleiss’ career was over before it began.

Miami Fleiss was heading to the barriers for a jumpout last year when she dumped the rider. She was secured, but then got away from the clerk of the course and proceeded to go anticlockwise full tilt back towards the starting stalls.

“As she was getting to them, she pulled up and basically did a somersault over the fence and then slid about 15m on the sand track and just lay there,” Gollan said.

The trainer feared the worst but fortunately she survived the incident, albeit with a prominent cut around her leg where the lead rope tangled.

That’s why she took so long to make her race debut.

It proved worth the wait, as the daughter of Spirit Of Boom gave Michael Rodd an armchair ride when hacking up by seven lengths on Friday night at the Sunshine Coast.

She is the latest promising youngster to sport the Black Soil Bloodstock colours, which were in the money with Garibaldi and Bleu Zebra at Doomben on Saturday.

Gollan said she will run next in a three-year-old fillies handicap (1200m) at Doomben in three weeks.

Trainer Tony Gollan has a talented filly on his hands with Miami Fleiss but it hasn’t been all plain sailing for the three-year-old.

Rodd was taken by surprise at the ease of Miami Fleiss’ win and said the margin could have been considerably more than the official seven lengths.

“I haven’t ridden a maidener in a race like that in a long time,” Rodd said. “I would have to go back to my days in Melbourne, riding for Kav (Mark Kavanagh). I’m not saying this is a filly that’s anything like that, but I’m just saying how dominant it was and how comfortable it was.

“She’s obviously very smart.”

Asked to quantify how much he had up his sleeve, Rodd explained the filly’s action told the story.

“Sometimes you don’t have as much as what it looks like, but I had a heap,” he said. “You look where her head was positioned, when they’re going like that, hers was like a gallop, so she wasn’t even extending. There was a lot there.”

Michael Rodd brings Garibaldi back to scale after winning at Doomben. Picture: Trackside Photography

LADBROKES WEEKEND REPORT

Best Result: Dissolution, Race 7: So Dapper was the popular one here and the winner friendless.

Worst Result/Best Backed: Garibaldi, Race 4: Was truckloaded here.

Punters of the week: Sandown (Wednesday), $1000 straight quaddie hits the line – collect of $172,100; Sandown (Saturday), $1000 straight quaddie hits the line (sub won in 3rd leg), $147,700 collect. Not bad for a couple of days work!

MARKETS – LADBROKES

BLACK CAVIAR LIGHTNING

Flemington, February 13

$3 Bivouac

$4.80 Nature Strip

$6 September Run

$12 Libertini, North Pacific, Ole Kirk, Pippie

$14 Anders, Elite Street, Haut Brion Her

$15 Eduardo, Fabergino, Farnan, Swats That, Wild Ruler

$16+ Others

Bivouac, ridden by Glen Boss, takes out the Darley Sprint Classic at Flemington last year.

THIS WEEK

Tuesday: Kilcoy, Beaudesert, Warwick Farm, Caulfield, Murray Bridge, Bunbury, Wagga, Kyneton, Darwin

Wednesday: Mackay, Gosford, Geelong, Bordertown, Ascot, Launceston (night)

Thursday: Eagle Farm, Scone, Ararat, Pakenham (night)

Friday: Rockhampton, Canterbury (night), Flemington, Werribee, Bathurst, Taree

Saturday: Sunshine Coast, Rosehill, Caulfield, Morphettville, Ascot, Gold Coast, Toowoomba (night), Bundaberg, Cairns, Taroom, Newcastle, Kyneton, Alice Springs

Sunday: Gatton, Murwillumbah, Sapphire Coast, Sale, Strathalbyn, Bunbury

THE QUOTE

“We know Brad knows the horse, he’s not frightened to have a go and he holds his own anywhere.”

— Stephen Massingham on the decision to offer Brad Stewart The All Star Mile ride on The Harrovian.

THE TALKING POINT

The meeting discussing the Eagle Farm situation between participants and officials last week. Trainers have made it very clear they are not going to put up with what is being served up at the moment and they expect real action, not just lip service and calls to be patient.

THE RIDE

Georgie Cartwright has found the key to Bleu Zebra. The filly really runs for her. Offset the alley with ease and controlled from that point on.

THREE TO BACK

You Make Me Smile, Race 8: Not a noted first up performer, he gave big sight here in slick time.

She Za Boss, Race 8: No market love, so the first up third was noteworthy

Nicci’s Spirit, Race 6: Ready for further now.

RISK

Toorooloo, Race 6: Stewards reported slow recovery, lame in near foreleg and a minor laceration. She’s much better than this.

THE FLOP

So Dapper, Race 7: He’s become a conundrum for punters, who lined up to back him here.

SHARP SHOOTERS

Garibaldi was said to be easy early in the week, but the market fluctuations told the story. Backed like he was an over the line prospect.

Originally published as Big things predicted for debut winner Miami Fleiss after runaway victory at Doomben