Forever Miki back at the trials

Smart three year old Forever Miki (Always B Miki) was back at the trials at Addington on Tuesday and he has some lofty targets in the spring.

The Brent and Tim White trained three year old won his first three starts before running Jumal to a neck at start four.

He then finished second to Jumal in the Group One Garrards NZ Sires’ Stakes at Addington in May.

“He had a month off. Then he went to the water walker for a couple of weeks. He’s carrying a lot more condition than his last prep,” Tim said.

Forever Miki’s regular pilot Sarah O’Reilly didn’t push the gelding in his trial, and he finished fourth in his heat which was won by Freeze Frame.

“His trials weren’t exciting last prep anyway. He just turns up when he knows he has to turn up. I said to the young fella who works for us that we’re still a month away from being really ready.”

White says this spring is going to look different for their Ashburton stable.

“For the last few years we’ve had American Me as our pinup horse doing a Cup prep. This year it’s going to be more of a Derby prep and hopefully a couple of the two year olds we’ve got can step up.”

White says the $300,000 New Zealand Pacing Derby will be Forever Miki’s main target.

“Hopefully everything he’s done in the Autumn stacks up and we get a crack at Jumal and whatever else pops it’s head up. It’s exciting slash daunting (laugher).”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink