Andrew Bobbin looks pretty clever given what Miracle Spin is doing this time in, but he concedes he hasn’t always felt that smart.
The Stawell trainer wondered after a winless three-run spring campaign, which concluded with a 23-length last placing in the Penshurst Cup, whether Miracle Spin would even have a second preparation for him.
But Bobbin is now thankful he persisted, with the import having thrived since he’s been able to get his toe into the ground and he goes in a search of a hat-trick of wins this Saturday at Caulfield.
The last-start Casterton Cup (2000m) winner, who won a midweek event over 1800m on Caulfield Heath track the start prior, heads the field for the $80,000 Sportsbet Caulfield Cup Carnival Hospitality BM78 Handicap (2000m).
“There were multiple times during the first six or eight weeks with this fellow that I thought maybe we might be looking at rehoming him as a pleasure horse,” Bobbin said of the current campaign.
“But once the softer tracks came around I realised that all his work has to be either done on the heavy sand or in the swimming pool.
“We worked out that the key to him is to just keep the weight off his limbs. I really think that has been the key to getting the best out of him.
“Tried horses all come with their battle scars and it’s all about trying to keep them together, but this horse is moving as well as I’m sure he has for a long time.”
The other key component of the recent wins according to Bobbin were the rides of apprentice jockey Shayleigh Ingelse, who he would have used again this weekend but for the 3kg metro claimer being suspended.
Harry Coffey has been called up as a replacement, meaning Miracle Spin has to carry his full 60.5kg, while his task was made even tougher when he drew barrier 13 in the field of 16.
“The wide gate isn’t ideal, but he is a horse that is fairly tractable and if he can hopefully find a position somewhere on the back of the horses, he should be really strong late.”
