After months of gut‑wrenching near misses, veteran horseman Stephen Miller is hoping racing’s pendulum finally swings his way when Toropa lines up in Saturday’s Listed Bolton Sprint (1200m) at Bunbury.
Few trainers understand the razor‑thin margins between elation and exasperation better than Miller. Since May, his team has filled the minor money in eight Group and Listed races, turning patience into a test of endurance.
Stable star Magnificent Andy has been beaten a neck in the Belmont Sprint (1400m) and a long head in the Hyperion Stakes (1600m); Elite Missile went down a short neck in the Raconteur Stakes (1400m); Toropa and Kimberley Rose have also gone agonisingly close.
Toropa, formerly trained by Vern Brockman and a winner of her first five starts, brings strong form after finishing second to emerging sprinter Repossession in the Beaufine Sprint (1000m).
Repossession completed a winning hat‑trick in that race and is being touted as a major Ascot carnival player, giving the Beaufine form real depth heading into the Bolton.
Miller was full of praise for his mare’s Beaufine run.
“She went sensational and just ran into a better one on the day,” Miller said on Tabradio.
“He’s (Repossession) is an up-and-coming horse.
“She’s been going along pretty good and I’m looking forward to Saturday.
“She’s trained on well and she’ll appreciate a wet track.
“She’s got a bit of quality about her.”
Brad Parnham, who rode Repossession in the Beaufine, reunites with Toropa. She drops in with 54kg and will jump from barrier eight as Parnham chases a fourth Bolton Sprint after Phanta (2023), Profit Street (2017) and Electic (2007).
Miller is also bullish about Timeless Gem, who bids for back‑to‑back wins in the Machinery West Handicap (1400m).
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