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The Millards’ big night and Dixon claims both Group 2s

24 May 2020

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By Duane Ranger

For 45 years David Millard has toiled long and hard in search of an elusive Listed winner.

The 71-year-old Warwick horseman achieved that lifetime goal when the Mr Feelgood gelding he bred, owns and trains – Little Bolt – won the Listed $25,000 QBRED Triad Final for four-year-old entires and geldings.

“I’m still a bit speechless; I’ve had horses place in QBRED races a long time ago, but this is the icing on the cake,” David Millard said.

“Shirley (wife) and I’ve waited such a long time for this, Andrew drove the horse an absolute treat.”

Andrew is Millard’s son, who was born a year after his father ventured into harness racing.

“I still can’t believe ‘Bolty’ won, this is my career highlight as well,” Andrew Millard said.

“I’m so happy for Dad and Mum because they have dedicated their life to horses.

“He’s a lovely little fella, Dad hasn’t been coming to the track much lately but joked on Saturday that  he was coming this time to lift the trophy.

“We got the good trip, and he did the rest, it was a wonderful feeling to win a QBRED race like that.

“It was special, and will remain with me for a very long time.”

LITTLE BOLT

Millard sat in the trail with the $25.90 outsider, planting behind Left A Terror before slipping into the one-one down the back straight.

In the lane they proved too strong winning by 1.6m from Commodore Jujon.

It was Little Bolt’s eighth win in 36 starts, and fourth this season, and his mile rate of 1:55.3 was a personal best by more than two seconds for the 2,138m mobile.

“Dad bred the horse, he is out of a Khans Thunder mare named Our Jamie Lee, who won nine races,” Andrew Millard said.

“She never raced in a QBRED final, but Dad had a few others that did.”

Albion Park

QBRED TRIAD FINAL - 4YO ENTIRES & GELDINGS (L) 2138m

Little Bolt, who was born in November 2015, is the only foal out of Our Jamie Lee, however Millard Senior will tell you ‘Bolt’ hails from a nice family.

“Our Jamie Lee’s mother was the Jan Lee, and her older brother was Jeremy Lee,” David Millard said.

“He was a very good pacer who won some nice races (22 wins and $216,971) in the 1990s.

“The family also dates back to Interdominion winner Robin Dundee.”

Millard Snr. said he had trained and bred some nice horses over the years, but with a Listed victory to his name, Little Bolt was now up there with his best.

“I think Misty Reflection and Stormy’s Promise placed in QBRED races back in the 1970s, it’ been a long time since then,” David Millard said.

Millard Jnr., who is a business manager in a private Brisbane School, stressed the Listed win was a family one.

“The win was for Mum, Dad, my sister Melissa, and my brother Brad, who also drives the horse,” Andrew Millard said.

“Actually we all help, I usually spell horses for six weeks in the winter and they seem to come back strong.

“We’ve got four two-year-olds, and we are breaking in a yearling, and work four racehorses.

“This fella is the best of them, and the way he’s going we might race him on for a week or two yet,” Millard said.

When the Listed and Group money is up for grabs,  the cream usually rises to the top; and that was the case with Australia’s leading trainer, Grant Dixon.

 

Dixons nail both Group 2s

The brilliant Mount Tamborine horseman won half of the QBRED races on offer, as well as the 2YO Colts and Geldings Consolation with the Paul Diebert-driven and the Solid Earth-owned and bred Captains Pick.

The winning Dixon quartet started in race two – the Listed QBRED Triad 4YO Mares final, where Dixon trained the quinella for the $25,000 event, but wasn’t in the bike for either.

Adam Sanderson sat in the one-one with Eternal Promise before getting out and pouncing down the back straight.

The daughter of Bettor’s Delight and As Promised had 5.2 metres to spare over stablemate, Goddess Jujon.

Three races later Dixon, and Fond Memories got the better his wife and stablemate, True Stepper in the Group 2 $50k QBRED Triad 3YO Fillies Final.

The daughter of Mach Three and Forever After sat in the one-one before pouncing late.

Fond Memories, who paid $3.20, is also owned and bred by Kevin and Kay Seymour and was her fourth win in 14 starts – all this season.

Dixon’s highlight of the evening came in the most prestigious race – the Group 2 $50k QBRED Triad 3YO Colts & Geldings Final, when the talented Governor Jujon cruised to an easy 3.9 metre victory.

Albion Park

QBRED TRIAD FINAL - 3YO COLTS & GELDINGS (G2) 2138m

The son of Cammibest and Fifth And Broadway was in cruise control, winning like the $1.10 win price bestowed upon him.

Dixon did the driving behind the winner, taking his career to 12 wins from 16 starts.

Governor Jujon’s stakes earnings now sit close to $250,000, and it was yet another statement by this extremely gifted three-year-old pacer.

He stopped the clock in 2:34.5 (a mile rate of 1:56.3) with sectionals of 31, 29.2, 28.3, and 28.1.

GOVERNOR JUJON

Patrick Estate horsewoman, Chantal Turpin, also had a good night training two winners.

It was another husband and wife battle all the way down the straight in race three, the $25k Listed QBRED Breeders Classic 2YO Colts & Geldings Final, but Turpin and Big Wheels got the 1.1 metre win over Just A Little Bit and Peter McMullen.

It was the A Rocknroll Dance gelding’s second straight win from six career starts.

Five races later, Turpin trained and drove $17.20 outsider, A Rainbow Diamond, to victory in the QBRED Triad 3YO Fillies Consolation.

The daughter of Betterthanchedder and Only Ours, is owned and was bred by Ross Patrick.