Miller makes winning return

Matamata trainer Daniel Miller made a welcome return to the winners’ circle at Arawa Park on Saturday following Loch Katrine's (NZ) (Ardrossan) victory in the Novara Park 1560.

Miller initially trained the daughter of Ardrossan as a two-year-old, when she won the Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m), before he took a hiatus from racing for a couple of years.

In the interim, Loch Katrine joined Stephen Autridge’s barn, for whom she added another win and nine placings to her record before rejoining Miller earlier this year.

Miller has taken a long and steady approach with her build-up and he was confident of a positive result first-up on a Heavy9 surface at Arawa Park, and she duly romped in to score by 1-1/4 lengths after she was given the perfect trip in the one-one by jockey Michael McNab.

“I know she has only had the one trial coming in, but she has done a lot of work,” Miller said. “She was very fit, so I wasn’t too concerned. The main thing is getting her on softer tracks, she is a different horse when she gets on those softer tracks, and her work at home had been super strong.

“I was quietly confident and when she jumped away nicely like that and Michael was able to get into the position (one-one), she just looked like she was travelling really well and did it quite comfortably.

“It was a top ride and it is so important getting Michael on, I have probably had more luck with him on than any other jockey. He rode her when she won the stakes race as well, so it was great.”

Miller, who returned to training last year, was rapt to be back in the winning groove after three years.

“It is super satisfying,” he said. “It is nice to feel this winning feeling again, it has been a long time.

“We only have a small number of racehorses at the moment, and we are flat out doing the breakers and pre-trainers for a lot of different clients. It is cool to get out on the weekend with a nice horse like this and especially to get a result.”

McNab was pleased to get the win for Miller and he said it is great to have him back in the trainers’ ranks.

“He is a great horseman and it is good to have him back training,” McNab said. “Dan has obviously got a good handle on her and we’ll just see where he can take her.”

Miller said he has not concrete plans for Loch Katrine, but he is looking forward to the arrival of winter racing where he believes his mare will thrive.

“I have got no plans,” he said. “We will get through today and just wait for the rain again.”