Trainer Danny O’Brien and champion jockey Damien Oliver combined to win three races at Bendigo on Wednesday and there was none more impressive than the three-year-old Reliable Man filly Miami Bound.
After debuting with a fine third behind the class gallopers Sebrakate and St Edward's Crown at Flemington back in May, Miami Bound came off a 12-week break to open her account over 1400 metres at Bendigo on August 23.
Stepped up to 1600 metres on Wednesday, Oliver gave Miami Bound plenty of time to find her feet and was back last early.
She cut a
swath between runners in the straight displaying an impressive turn of foot to
defeat Go Harvies (Testa Rossa) by two lengths with Frazil (Medaglia d’Oro) the
same distance back in third.
"I was a bit undecided whether to go forward or back but I was keeping it in the back of my mind that we are trying to get her over a trip so I thought teaching her to settle would be better,” Oliver said.
"I got a bit further back than planned. Coming to the turn I wondered whether to go in or out but I could feel her building underneath me and if any gap came she was going to take it. So, I took the punt and she cut through and won well.
"She’s got a nice turn of foot and is a really nice filly going forward.”
Purchased by her trainer for $120,000 out of the Westbury Stud draft 2018 NZB Karaka - Book 1, Miami Bound (pictured as a yearling) has a real Oaks pedigree being a daughter of the 2007 VRC Oaks heroine Arapaho Miss (Danehill Dancer).
She is a half-sister to the Encosta de Lago gelding De Little Engine who won the Listed VRC Andrew Ramsden Stakes over 3200 metres.
