Harness racing: Young driver eyes another Group 1 with career-changing pacer Miki To Success in Chariots Of Fire

Exciting pacer Miki To Success has been a career changer for young Victorian driver Jackie Barker as the pair chase another Group 1 win in the Chariots Of Fire on Saturday night.

Miki To Success is one of five runners from the Emma Stewart stable in the Group 1 Chariots Of Fire on Saturday night. Picture: Stuart McCormick

Exciting pacer Miki To Success is proving a career changer for young Victorian driver Jackie Barker.

Having already teamed for Group 1 success in Victoria, the pair will try to raise the bar again in Australia’s premier four-year-old race, the $200,000 Group 1 Chariots Of Fire at Menangle on Saturday night.

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“It’s a massive thrill to be part of such a big race, I’m so excited,” Barker said.

“Everyone hopes to find that horse that paves the way for bigger things in their career, he’s that horse to me.”

Barker, 28, is a third generation member of a strong and southwest Victorian harness family, She has driven Miki To Success 11 times for five wins and four placings.

The biggest of the wins was the Group 1 Vicbred 3YO Final at Melton last September, but she also finished third on him in the Group 1 Victoria Derby last season then won the Group 2 4YO Bonanza on February 1 to cement a spot in the Chariots Of Fire.

“When I first started driving him, he was just a nice horse, but we’ve really clicked and he’s just kept improving,” she said.

“That Vicbred win was part of an amazing night. I drove my first and second Group 1 winners on the night, both trained by Emma (Stewart) and Clayton (Tonkin).”

Miki To Success (Jackie Barker) holds the lead from the pole and then runs away to head home an Emma Stewart-trained trifecta in 1:50 in the Group 3 Hip Pocket Castlemaine 4yo Bonanza, and qualify for the Chariots of Fire. pic.twitter.com/OGCPsmDX6j

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) February 1, 2025

Barker’s other Group 1 win at the September 14 meeting came on Iveseenheavenslight in the Vicbred 2YO Fillies’s final.

“Emma and Clayton have certainly been good in giving me opportunities,” she said.

“This will be only the second time I’ve driven at Menangle. I ran third on Joanna for Emma and Clayton in a Group 1 race a few years ago. Joanna chased home their stars of the time Tough Tilly and Ladies In Red, which is what she usually did against them.

“It’s certainly different driving at (the big) Menangle track than it is Melton at home, but I certainly learnt a lot from that drive on Joanna up there.”

Miki To Success is one of a remarkable five runners (half the 10-horse field) Stewart and Tonkin have in the Chariots Of Fire.

GROUP 1 GLORY!
Driver Jackie Barker celebrates her first elite-level victory as the Emma Stewart-trained Miki To Success storms home to win the Art Major Vicbred Super Series final for three-year-old colts and geldings. pic.twitter.com/r3FWWD2ekt

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) September 14, 2024

He is a $7.50 chance from a wide draw (gate eight).

“I know he’s good enough to win it, he’s beaten them all before, but we’re just going to need some luck from that draw,” she said.

Stablemate Bay Of Biscay, who only ran sixth to Miki To Success in the 4YO Bonanza, franked that form when he brilliantly won the Hondo Grattan at Menangle last Saturday week.

He is the clear $1.90 favourite with Cam Hart aboard from barrier four.

Another of Stewart and Tonkin’s runners, Some American, is the only key player at $4.20 from barrier seven. Luke McCarthy has the drive.

• Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp