Cairns' Miller hopeful of another Townsville Dollars

By Glenn Davis

Cairns trainer Rodney Miller has cast his mind back 12 months and is hopeful of claiming successive wins in the Townsville Dollars QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap at Cluden Park on Tuesday.

Miller claimed his first Townsville Dollars with Cleaver Greene in last year’s North Queensland feature and is confident either King Jester or Santa Marinella can defend his crown.

Miller believes Santa Marinella is the stable’s main hope but won’t be surprised if King Jester causes an upset.

Santa Marinella will be ridden by in-form hoop Lacey Morrison but needs to overcome a wide barrier of 11 while King Jester drew barrier seven and will be ridden by three-kilogram claiming apprentice Isabella Teh.

Santa Marinella was having only his second start this campaign when he produced a flashing run to down It’s A Ploy over 1200 metres at Townsville on June 16.

“It was a very good win and he only just got there,” Miller said.

“But, he would have won by a lot more if it was any further.

“This horse has always had a lot of ability but he’s got to be ridden right.

“I haven’t really got to the top of him yet as I think he’ll run 2000 metres eventually.”

Miller believes Santa Marinella has a slight fitness edge over stable mate King Jester, who has won five of his 10 starts.

King Jester finished less than three lengths behind Santa Marinella last start at only his second run back from winning four straight for injured apprentice Marnu Potgieter during the autumn.

“He’s coming along well and his work has been really good but I just feel he might be a run short,” Miller said.

“He’s only fine in stature so it’s hard to get a gauge on his fitness.

“But, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he happened to beat this lot.”

Miller rates the Roy Chillemi-trained Palencia, who drew poorly in gate 12, as the main threat.

Palencia is striving to give Chillemi his fifth win in the Townsville Dollars and is coming off a last start third to Prime Ruler and Brilliant Mind in a 1400 metre Class 6 at Townsville on June 28.

Palencia is part-owned by North Queensland’s biggest owner Tom Hedley and has been a revelation in the region, starting 12 times for five wins and as many placings.