FNQ Miller stable bursting at the seams

A Cannon Park stable has been growing steadily over the last few years and will be at its largest capacity ever this Thursday on their home track.

Racehorse owner Chris Jorgensen and his daughter Athena with his horse Taveuni and Cairns Trainer Rodney Miller. PICTURE: STEWART MCLEAN.

The Rodney Miller yard has been growing steadily over the last few years and will be at its largest capacity ever this Thursday on their home track.

Miller, a former local rider, previously would have a starter or two every now and again throughout north Queensland.

Jockey Bonnie Thomson and trainer Rodney Miller after winning Race 5 at Cannon Park on Barwon. The general public are not permitted to attend horse races due to the government restrictions in place to reduce the spread of coronavirus. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE.

On Thursday at Cairns Jockey Club, six live chances will go around for the Miller team and it could have been seven if Diamozu, a recent maiden winner, had not bled up at Tolga on Saturday.

“It is huge,” Miller said of his stable growth.

The old guard of Voltaic, Via Balciano and Barwon will be joined by fresh stable arrivals Happy Hooves and Hasty Heart across the nine event program.

Happy Hooves was previously with premier Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan while Hasty Heart comes north from Ken Parker in NSW.

Racehorse owner Chris Jorgensen and his daughter Athena with his horse Taveuni and Cairns Trainer Rodney Miller. PICTURE: STEWART MCLEAN

Miller is not getting carried away with his new couple but is hopeful of what they can produce.

“They have just come up from other trainers, so we are still learning a lot about them,” Miller said.

“I expect them to go OK on Thursday.”

Old campaigner Barwon will be ridden by stable hoop Scott Gittos in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1900m) to finish proceedings from Cannon Park, just days after he only just went down at Townsville.

“Scott rides him work, he is a difficult horse to ride in work and we will give Scott the chance on him,” Miller said.

“I have never had him going this good, he has got a new lease of life, his gallop the other morning was quicker than any final 400m of any horse I clocked that morning.

“That is the way he works, but he can run terrible at times.”

On Saturday at Tolga, Diamozu was post-race found to have bled from both nostrils in running, being the first episode of his career.

Racehorse owner Chris Jorgensen and his daughter Athena with his horse Taveuni and Cairns Trainer Rodney Miller. PICTURE: STEWART MCLEAN

Stewards advised Miller that the gelding would incur the mandatory three months ban and be required to gallop 1000m satisfactorily in the presence of a steward prior to next race start.

Meanwhile, punters are unlikely to be permitted at CJC on Thursday.

Racing Queensland has recently released details around 20 people being permitted into race tracks from Monday.

CJC general manager John Cameron said his club’s coronavirus plan is waiting to be ticked off and is unlikely to be done so before Thursday.

Cameron says the 100 punters on course next month is the more likely scenario.

Originally published as FNQ Miller stable bursting at the seams