Seven Mile Beach trainer Imogen Miller celebrated a career high at Hobart last Sunday, preparing four of the eight winners.
She combined with visiting WA apprentice Zephen Johnston-Porter for three of those wins, kicking off with lightly raced three-year-old filly Blonde Star, who finished off strongly from midfield to clear maiden ranks over 1200 metres at her third appearance.
Victorian trainer Lindsey Smith has been a regular visitor to the Apple Isle in recent months, using Miller’s stables as a base, and has left several runners in her care including up-and-coming stayer Dalton Dancer, who supplied Miller and Johnston-Porter with their second win in the benchmark 62 handicap over 2200 metres.
It was the second local win from as many outings for the Russian Revolution mare, who took a benchmark 58 over 1850 metres at Terang before venturing south and thus was completing a hat-trick last Sunday.
Miller’s third win also came via a recent stable acquisition, with former Siggy Carr representative Saxon Mist coming from just off the pace under Lauryn Bingley to take the benchmark 62 handicap over 1600 metres.
The daughter of Americain now has two wins and two minor placings from seven starts for the new yard, having scored once from her previous 13 outings.
Miller again combined with Johnston-Porter to round out her quartet of wins with another former Smith representative.
Kaliuwaa Falls, who finished last in an open handicap over 1200 metres at Launceston last Friday night, backed up in fine fashion to take the benchmark 76 handicap over 1600 metres.
The Sacred Falls gelding has now won four of five local outings with Friday night’s “miss” the only blemish.
At the Launceston meeting Carr’s promising stayer Pennine handled the leap from benchmark 64 company to take the night’s feature, the $50,000 Tasmanian St Leger over 2400 metres.
With Carr riding as well as training, the Alpine Eagle gelding settled in his customary rearward position before weaving a passage through the field and prevailing narrowly over the John Keys-trained Travelling Gigolo, who was a shade unlucky after being briefly held up at the top of the straight.
Carr’s charge has now four of his past five and may develop into a feature local cups contender next summer.