QTIS Jewel target for King Jester

Image credit: Peter Roy Photography

By Glenn Davis

Far North Queensland trainer Rodney Miller is readying himself for a marathon road trip for the $500,000 QTIS Jewel 3YO on the Gold Coast next month if talented sprinter King Jester salutes at Cairns on Friday.

King Jester is aiming for a hat-trick of wins and his fourth in five starts in the QTIS Jewel Qualifier over 1250 metres at Cannon Park.

Miller, 66, has never saddled a horse in Brisbane or the Gold Coast and is aware of the difficulties floating a horse from Cairns to the Gold Coast.

“I’ve driven from Melbourne to Cairns and I know how long that took but I’ve never taken a float down to Brisbane or the Gold Coast,” Miller said.

“I know Roy Chillemi took a horse down from Cairns to the Gold Coast a few years ago and it took him several days.

“But if King Jester wins, he’ll be going down for the big race and I’ll need to work out how long it’ll take.”

King Jester has been ridden by Brisbane-based apprentice Marnu Potgieter in all his three recent wins including his last start when he stormed home to win over 1250 metres in Cairns on February 4.

“If King Jester wins again, he’ll go down for The Jewel and Marnu will ride him,” Miller said.

“Marnu rides well and he knows the horse well after winning on him three times.”

Miller also will saddle up Kuranda in the QTIS Jewel Qualifier but has already ruled out a trip south should the filly be successful.

“King Jester is a very good horse but he needs luck in his races,” Miller said.

“Kuranda goes well too but I doubt she’s mature enough to go away just yet.”

Kuranda has started only seven times wining for Miller in a 950-metre maiden at Cairns on January 6 before running behind King Jester at Townsville on January 14.

The daughter of Bobby’s Kitten is coming off a last start sixth behind King Jester on a heavy track at Cairns on February 4.

Miller was a former jockey in North Queensland before a race fall ended his career.

He later moved to Melbourne working as a foreman for trainers Gerald Ryan, Brian Mayfield-Smith, Graeme Rogerson and Lloyd Williams before moving to Cairns about five years ago.

“I was A foreman in Melbourne for a lot of years and spent 12 years with Lloyd Williams,” Miller said. 

“I even spent a year training in New Guinea before we moved to Cairns.”