Racing: Mistake puts Miami H out of Victoria Derby glory

Miami H (left). Photo / Greg Bowker

For the second time in six weeks Maimi H's manners have cost him group one glory.

The New Zealand trotter threw away his shot at last night's A$75,000 Victoria Trotting Derby at Maryborough by galloping soon after the start, much as he did in the Harness Jewels at Cambridge last month.

This time the break saw Miami H settle second last, rather than working straight to the lead as the punters who had backed him into $1.80 favouritism expected.

Driver Frank Cooney put him in the race with a lap to go but he started to struggle at the 400m mark and while he fought hard in the home straight he could manage only fifth.

A natural leader, had Miami H been able to the lead the magnitude of his subsequent performance suggests the Derby would have been his.

Instead, the race was another group one success for all-conquering Melton trainer Chris Lang, who trained and drove Jingling Silver to win the classic.

The filly made the most of an economical trip on the markers to dive through late in what must have been a blow to the connections of one-time Derby favourite Kahdon.

That Kiwi filly was forced to miss the Derby after being struck down by illness last weekend but had thrashed Jingling Silver in the Victoria Oaks last month.

Miami H will stay in Victoria to campaign at the Australasian Breeders Crown next month but last night's gallop could hardly have come at a worse time after his connections turned down a massive offer for him this week.

While there was no New Zealand success at Maryborough yesterday, Pukekohe filly De Lovely capped New Zealand's wonderful season in Australia with an easy Australian Oaks win at Melton on Friday night.

The Geoff Small-trained filly had her task made much easier by the early gallop of second favourite Millwood Meg, but it is hard to imagine how she would have been beaten anyway.

Allowed to settle in midfield early, De Lovely was sent forward at the bell by David Butcher and even though she had to sit parked for the last 600m she always had leader Torque In Motion covered.

De Lovely paced her last mile in 1:55, her final 800m in a sharp 55.2 seconds to win going away and now looks to have her division of the Breeders Crown at her mercy.

She will take an unusual path to the Crown semi-finals on August 13 though, as she will return home to New Zealand to contest what could be a walkover heat at Cambridge this week.

That will give Small the opportunity to prepare her for the return trip to Australia at home before flying back to Melbourne just two days before the semis, the same travel arrangements which worked so well last week.