In Brief
- $20,000 bonus for Algernon's first win.
- Algernon defies poor trial form to win on debut.
- Part-owner thrilled with debut win.
Co-trainer Imogen Miller was elated after her two-year-old Algernon ($21) scored an impressive win on debut in a maiden over 1100 metres.
Not only was it a debut win but it also netted the winning owners a $20,000 Tasbred bonus to take the gelding’s career stake earnings from one win to $30,625.
Of the $20,000, the owners receive $16,000 and $4,000 finds its way to the breeder, although there were some bonuses paid out on Sunday that only went to the owners as the breeders had opted not to pay up for the bonus scheme.
Miller, who co-trains with Chris Crook at Campania, trialed Algernon twice before racing but he failed to impress both times which is why he was almost friendless in the market, starting as a $21 outsider.
The well-backed Runaway Girl ($4.60) showed good speed to be one of the leaders and when she cruised to the lead in the straight, she was being hailed the winner.
But that’s when Algernon joined in as the widest runner and powered home to score from Runaway Girl with outsider Ninth Angel ($21) running on well for third.
“I trained this horses mum Destiny’s Girl, so it is special training one of her progeny,” Miller said.
“We gave him a couple of trials and he never really figured but I was happy with what he did, and he continued to improve in his work.
“He’s done his job, so I’ll tip him out for a spell and look forward to him coming back as a three-year-old.”
Miller has been training for five years and has been in partnership with Crook for much of that journey.
Algernon was bred by Miller’s mother and being paid up for the Tasbred bonus scheme makes him a valuable commodity.
Part-owner Adam Upton was thrilled with the win.
“The horse didn’t trial all that well but Brendon (McCoull) kept telling us he has ability and that it was going to be a matter of us waiting for him to show it on the track,” Upton said.
“Luckily for us he’s saved that for race day, and we collected the Tasbred bonus that pretty much covers his purchase price.”
Algernon (Wordsmith-Destiny’s Girl) joins the throng of gallopers to have benefited from the Tasbred Bonus Scheme that was introduced two years ago and it has been hailed the saviour of the state’s breeding industry.
Watch Algernon score an impressive win on debut in Hobart on Sunday.