It was a small sample size, but trainer Simon Miller saw enough in Horcrux at Belmont on the weekend to indicate he has a bright future in front of him.
Going away from the orthodox approach he normally takes with his juveniles, Miller chose a 1200m race to debut Horcrux and the two-year-old responded impressively.
In a perfect start to his racing journey, Horcrux, ridden by Jordan Turner, proved too classy in the Peters Investment Plate, defeating Supido Express and Mean Machine.
“He’s a nice horse, a proper horse,” Miller said on Tabradio.
“It’s very rare I go first start to 1200m with a two-year-old because it’s hard to do.
“He’s pretty good and we felt he would have that field covered.
“When he stepped slow I thought he was in a world of trouble.
“But, he mustered and to give a kick on straightening is a reflection of his ability.”
Considered the ‘king of the babies’, Miller said immaturity and timing cost Horcrux from participating in feature two-year-old races in the autumn.
But, he’s positive a patient and conservative approach will reap dividends when the Rommel gelding targets Ascot carnival races later this year.
“He’s raw and a big, framed horse,” Miller said.
“He’s not a two-year-old, he’s probably a three-year-old miler to be fair.
“He’s been bubbling away behind the scenes, but knees, shins, a bit of everything, he wasn’t ready to go.
“The product was there; he just wasn’t your traditional jump and run two-year-old that you would have loved to have.
“He’ll be a good three-year-old and the next couple of days I’ll come up with a play.
“Either a three-year-old 1200m in a fortnight and bank Westspeed or give him a break and bring him back for a Guineas path.
“I don’t know if he is a miler, but if you’re setting a two-year-old a first start at 1200m and they crunch them you would have to say they are strong and a mile would be their go.”
Miller’s Ascot carnival team is starting to take shape with a host of stars coming back into to work including West Star, Live To Tell, Generosity and Petula.
West Star, a Playing God gelding, looks a real prospect and left for the paddock undefeated after winning his second race by a whopping five lengths in June.
“He looks outstanding,” Miller said.
“He’s got huge x-factor, but is still raw and still winning for fun.
“When you get a good Playing God you get a real good one and he looks one of them.
“It’s exciting and the Placid Ark looks a safe bet for him.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if in 12-months’ time he’s in a Quokka, but we’ll get through this carnival first.”
Julio Santarelli