Victorian harness racing trainer David Miles is going back to Bathurst for the first time in more than a decade in an attempt to qualify a runner in the Gold Crown and Gold Tiara finals.
Miles last ventured to Bathurst in 2001 with talented pacer Wine Me Up, but a move to the new 1000-metre track has meant a return to the carnival.
“Wine Me Up was a good horse, but he just didn’t handle the old track at all, so it turned me off and I didn’t even bother paying up for the carnival for a few years,” Miles said. “But with the move to the 1000-metre track it has changed things.
“I’ve got Bold Comment Lombo in the Tiara and Time Keepa Lombo in the Crown and I think both of are nice horses.”
As the names suggests, both are raced by well-known and respected owner Mick Lombardo.
“Mick sent me six horses this season and these two are the first two to get to the track,” Miles said. “They are all nicely-bred stock and it is great to be training for Mick.”
Two-year-old filly Bold Comment Lombo has raced once, which resulted in a third at Kilmore.
“She is a very nice filly… she is a little bit fizzy, but is a bit above average too,” Miles said.
“If she does everything right and has no bad luck then I would be very disappointed if she didn’t finish first or second in her heat that’s for sure.”
Time Keepa Lombo was impressive on debut at Ballarat and will be looking to keep his unbeaten record intact when he steps out in his heat on Saturday night.
“He was great at Ballarat,” Miles declared. “He’s by Lombo Pocket Watch and he is rangy and leggy, but like his dad he carries himself well and has a bit of a presence about him.”
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HRNSW Media