With the 2024 edition of The Meadowlands Pace looming on the horizon it is an opportune time to reflect on the 2014 running of this prestigious three Year Old Race.
Always B Miki put up one of the bravest runs in the history of the Race when he was posted three wide for the entire trip to finish runner up to Hes Watching in a World Record equaling performance of 1.46.4.
Always B Miki now continues to churn out smart winners in the Southern Hemisphere each weekend. This past weekend saw another 5 Metropolitan winners – one at Addington plus another four in three States of Australia.
The five year old entire Paul Edward was a feature winner at Gloucester Park on Friday night, bursting into open air in the home straight to claim first prizemoney in the $30,000 The Pure Steel.
This victory is number ten for the son of Always B Miki and advanced his bankroll to $140,675.
Paul Edward is the ninth foal from the Golden Greek mare Like A Dame. She has now produced eight winners, all bred by leading WA breeder Steve Johnson. Those eight winners include the millionaire pacer David Hercules 1.52.7, whilst a half sister to Like A Dame in Endless Journey is the dam of the 4 year old star Never Ending 1.54.6 $577,565.
Paul Edward has a 3 X 4 cross to Abercrombie, which further reinforces the like that Always B Miki has for Abercrombie/Artsplace mares.
Two races later on that Gloucester Park meeting The Miki Taker led all the way for trainer / driver Aiden De Campo. This gelding bred by Mike Howie, a neighbour of Steve Johnson’s, has now strung together 14 wins for his connections and more importantly deposited $247,966 into their Bank accounts.
He is also from an Artsplace line mare, the Art Major mare Topless Beach Girl.
Earlier on Friday evening, but some 6,000 kilometres to the east, the three year old Always B Miki gelding Kotare Kelso brought up his maiden win.
The smart win in 1.56.9 suggests further success lies ahead for this gelding, who is the third foal from the Mach Three mare Kotare Yassi.
Always B Miki sired his other two weekend winners at Albion Park and Menangle on Saturday night – both being females.
The five year old mare Not To Be Denied (from an Art Major mare) advanced her earnings past the $150,000 mark with a tough win over a smart group of mares that included the runner up Cheer Leader (also by Always B Miki).
Meanwhile at Menangle, the QEII Mile winner Aardies Express kept her unbeaten Australian record intact with a 26.1 last quarter victory – her 16th in 22 starts.
A weekend never passes without our trotting legend Majestic Son adding to his total of winners.
- Tectonic, a four year old gelding recorded win number 2 for the season from 2 starts when winning at Addington on Friday night.
- Our Ultimate Sunny, a three year old, looked impressive winning the NSW Three Year Old Trot Foundation final at Menangle. This colt, from a Bacardi Lindy mare, now has had 2 career starts for 2 wins.
Art Major who has celebrated his 25th Birthday chimed in with his Metropolitan winners – they being:
- Commander Ben, a four year old gelding from a McArdle mare, brought up career win number six at Addington on Friday night.
- Carramar Solomona, from a Live Or Die mare, won at Melton on Saturday night. It was career win number six from his 25 starts.
- A father / son dead heat at Globe Derby Park on Saturday night when Apology Accepted (by Art Major) and Bad Boy Carter (by Vincent) couldn’t be separated by the judge.
Finally, Rock N Roll Heaven currently sits in sixth position on the Australian Sires List, having sired 139 individual winners to date this season.
He sired a treble of winners on the weekend with winners at Gloucester Park, Melton and Menangle.
- Lil Happy Fella – a six year old gelding from a Christian Cullen mare, took his earnings to just over $100,000 with a narrow win at Gloucester Park.
- Heavenly Charm – a seven year old mare from a Holmes Hanover mare brought up career win number 10 with earnings now $112,305.
- Swayzee – from an Art Major mare, continued on his winning ways, taking his earnings to $920,914.