​Promising galloper Miso chalked up his first metropolitan success with a strong all the way win at Sandown on Wednesday.
Starting the $1.70 favourite, he led at a strong tempo before holding out Toogoodfortoorak to score by three quarters of a length.
After jumping steadily from barrier one, Ethan Brown was able to drive through to lead after 100 metres.
From that point Brown had his rivals chasing before kicking strongly in the home straight.
Burdened effectively with topweight of 61.5kg, the 4YO son of Fighting Son showed great qualities in winning the Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Handicap over 1440m.
In winning, the gelding continues to build on an impressive record that now consists of three wins and two placings from five starts.
Looking to work his way through the grades, Daniel will target a BM70 next.
“At this stage, I don’t have any set plans, I will let the dust settle and find a BM70 in the city.”
When quizzed about a racing style similar to former stable star Begood Toya Mother, Daniel was circumspect.
“A few people have made that comparison, hopefully they are right.”
The win continues a terrific run for the stable that includes three wins from four runners to kick off 2023 in style.
Thirteen wins and 12 placings from the last 50 runners, has the team striking at an impressive 50% for top three finishes.
Congratulation to Miso’s owners Daryl and Jane, who have been loyal supporters of the stable since we started training.

​​Is It Me and Strawberry Moon continued the stables recent hot run with wins over the weekend. Saddling up two runners, Daniel and the team hit the bullseye twice to give the stable five winners from the past eight runners. If we include the win of So She Can Fly at Geelong in early November, the stable has now recorded six winners during the past four weeks.

Is It Me was given his first taste of metropolitan racing and past with flying colours at Morphettville. He franked his easy Maiden at Penshurst last month with a tradesman like win. Lining up in the Croser BM62 Handicap over 1300m, he lived up to his $2.60 quote as favourite despite doing a few things wrong. Melissa Julius was able to stalk the speed, albeit over-racing, before allowing the promising gelding to stride before the home turn. The 3YO son of Iffraaj did wobble around the corner, but once balanced powered to the post. It was a convincing win, the margin just over one length and widening. Daniel has no immediate plans for his next start preferring to wait to see how he comes through the race and big trip on what was a warm weekend.

Strawberry Moon courtesy of a lovely Dean Yendall ride rewarded her owners with a well-deserved win in the Waacks Bakery Maiden Plate over 1300m at Stawell. The 4YO daughter of Stratum Star had always shown consistency in her previous five starts before breaking her duck in good style. Third-up from a spell, Yendall followed the speed before getting a start on odds-on favourite Bunjil. It proved the winning move as the combo easily held out the runner-up to score by just over one length. With summer racing here, the mare will get plenty of opportunities to build on her winning record over the next few months. She was purchased by Jeremy Rogers and syndicated in conjunction with SCT Syndications as a weanling. It is very pleasing to be able to reward the very patient owners.

Miso also kept his winning record intact with a great first-up win at Geelong on November 22nd. Despite not racing since a comfortable debut win at Warracknabeal in July, the promising 4YO son of Fighting Son smashed his rivals by three and half lengths. Taken to the lead by Declan Bates the gelding could not have been any more impressive in winning the Rex Gorell 0-64 Handicap over 1143m. His next mission may include a chance to tick off a city win at Sandown on November 14th.

Congratulations to all winning connections across the past few weeks.

​On what could only be described as another ‘crazy’ weather day, the stable enjoyed a race to race double at the Penshurst Cup meeting on Saturday.
With rain, wind, thunder and lightning throughout the day, the track surface suffered accordingly, its rating deteriorating from a slow 7 to a heavy 9 (maybe worse) by the final race.
Our two winners came earlier in the meeting when the track played at its best, albeit still heavy.
It Is Me was making his debut and what a big impression he made, winning the Dunkeld & District Bendigo Bank Maiden Plate over 1284 by a widening margin of seven lengths.
After jumping evenly from the barriers, Melissa Julius allowed him to find his feet and travel nicely despite being three-wide.
Approaching the halfway mark of the race she let him stride and within the blink of an eye he was up outside the leaders.
From that point he found the front rounding the home turn and continued to extend right through to the winning post.
It was a win that impressed Melissa.
“Yes he was super, it’s exciting to see where he will end up!”
Daniel and stable client Rob Dore purchased the son of Iffraaj for $40,000 at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
After finishing second at this meeting last year, Honour De Hero was able to go one step further with a comfortable win in the Cottrill’s Plumbing & Page Electrical BM58 Handicap over 1284m.
Melissa rode again, and with a clever ride, set up the win very early in the race.
From an inside draw she booted up to make the leaders work, before settling back off the pace in a stalking role.
With the leaders under pressure a fair way from home, she came off the fence to quickly assert control around the home turn.
Despite winning comfortably by just over one length, Melissa’s thoughts did revert back to twelve months ago.
“She’s such a little jet, so honest, although I did have flash backs to last year when she appeared to wait for them.”
First-up from a spell, she should derive plenty of fitness and with her rating (now 60) it gives her the chance at this level (BM58) again soon.
We did saddle up another first starter in Prickley Prince, but it may pay to forget that effort as the 3YO son of Reliable Man raced greenly and appeared uncomfortable on the heavy track.
Congratulations to all our owners, it was an enjoyable winning weekend!

Last Sunday the stable headed over the border to Mount Gambier with a team of four and full of optimism.

That anticipation was rewarded with a double, Culily Ace and Moon Over Alice both recording their third career victories.
With a distinct liking for winter tracks, both were suited on the slow track that was presented.

Culily Ace was first-up since October and franked her solid trial form with a win in the Scott Group of Companies BM68 Handicap over 1323m.
The 5YO daughter of Bon Hoffa was well ridden by Caitlin Jones, settling just off the pace before running way for an easy three length victory.
Starting at $11, the mare defeated South Australian trained gallopers Short Stories and Unlimited Ability.
The stable also saddled up Honour De Hero in the race, but after settling on speed she faded to run seventh.

Moon Over Alice made it three rain-effected career successes with a strong win in the TAB Class 2 Handicap over 1223m.
The resilient 3YO daughter of Your Song is deep into her current preparation, but the come from last victory suggests she can win again this winter.
Neil Farley settled the filly well back before a searching run soon rounded up her opposition.
Starting the $3.20 favourite, she defeated Last Dream by 1.7 lengths.

Our other runner was the lightly raced Our Sparkle who ran an even race to finish midfield at her second start and first run since January.

Congratulations to all our owners in both winners!

Plans to lead and dictate the race with Magnetic Prince were aborted after the barriers opened in the last at Casterton on Sunday.
Thankfully a great ride and terrific determination by the horse secured a second career win, when railing for victory in the Tasco Petroleum BM64 Handicap over 1400m.
A natural on speed galloper, Daniel hatched a plan with Laura Lafferty to lead around the tight circuit. But after missing the start, he explained that Laura had to revert to Plan B.
“Yes the plan was to lead and win, but that went out the window early, thankfully Laura didn’t panic and settled into a nice rhythm out the back.”
It was a brilliant ride and despite being put under pressure from the 600m to improve, Daniel was impressed with how the horse responded.
“Local knowledge helped Laura, she knew going wide wouldn’t help, cutting the corner and keeping momentum was needed. To the horse’s credit he still had to pick up and did so very impressively.”
The 4YO son of Magnus is still learning, but Daniel believes with time he can eventually make it to mid-week level.
“We will look for a similar race, maybe even check the calendar for a race in Adelaide. I think he can make it to mid-week Melbourne level, but that might not be until next preparation. He still does a few things wrong as we seen on Sunday.”

Congratulations to all his owners Steve, Mark, Harry, Frank, Domenic, Chris, Chris, Luke and Chris.  ​

​Atomic Gold returned to the racetrack in grand style when easily accounting for his opposition in the Cor Cordis Maiden Plate over 1110m at Werribee last Friday.
After a handy debut fourth placing last September at Casterton, the 4YO son of Atomic was sent to the paddock to get over a few small issues, which also allowed him to furnish further.
The break did wonders as this win showed.
From a middle barrier, Mitch Aitken let the speed go early, before moving into the race rounding the home turn.
A great turn of foot allowed him to quickly grab the lead and career away for an impressive three length win.
He defeated odds-on favourite Recap, another local galloper from the Lindsey Smith yard.
The gelding who was bred and now raced by the Mugavin family, had a topsy turvy start to life.
At four days old, he needed a foster mum after becoming an orphan foal.
With all that behind him, he looks more than capable of going through the grades, especially on rain effected tracks which he has shown liking too.