Trainer-driver Aiden de Campo says The Miki Taker has earned a rest after he scored an impressive win in the Pastrami Pacing Special Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
With De Campo in the sulky The Miki Taker kept up his impressive form when seeing off Wonderful To Fly and High Price to take the win.
Fast finish
After jumping from barrier two The Miki Taker trailed Wonderful To Fly and High Price before making his move 650metres from home but the race went right to the wire.
The Miki Taker hit the front 15metres from the line following a devastating sprint finish that left his rivals stunned. De Campo and his charge sprinted the final 400metres in just 27.4 seconds.
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The Miki Taker now has seven wins and six placings in his 15 outings and De Campo has made an important decision ahead of some big feature races later in the year.
“He will go to the paddock now for a couple of months,” De Campo told reporters after the race. “He will miss the Pearl (13th May) and I will bring him back for the big races towards the end of the year.
“He has done a good job this time in, and I will be aiming to get him back to race in the Westbred Classic (a $100,000 event on 9th September).
“I’d rather give him a decent break and miss the $50,000 Pearl, and then have him primed for the bigger races.”
Fighting performance
De Campo got the Miki Taker into the race when he moved him off the pegs and admits he was a little concerned at one point.
But his charge battled right until the end to get the win.
“I managed to get out and get the job done,” De Campo added. “He laboured a bit around the last corner, but as soon as he straightened up, he paced strongly. He’s got so much fight in him, and that’s his best asset.
“He fought really well up the straight and went to the line well.”
