Miles counting down to NZ raid with Rockinwithattitude

By Adam Hamilton

David Miles is starting to get excited.

It is more than 15 years since he has raced a horse in NZ and even then, it was more with hope than expectation.

That was talented pacer Villagem who ran third in a heat and 10th in the 2011 Inter Dominion final behind Im Themightyquinn (Smoken Up won but was disqualified) at Alexandra Park.

The Victorian-based Miles is preparing to return, this time with his darling trotting mare Rockinwithattitude.

And she will be a key player.

The six-year-old has been a star since her two-year-old days and boasts six Group 1 wins.

The latest of them came this season when she beat other star mares Jilliby Ballerini and Jilliby Dreamlover in the Macarthur Mile at Menangle on May 2.

Overall, Rockinwithattitude has raced 52 times for 25 wins, 11 seconds, three thirds and banked a thumping $662,642.

After the Menangle win, she went on to win a heat of the Brisbane Inter Dominion series then finish a brave and close-up fourth to Gus in the final on July 18.

That’s when Miles set his sights on NZ.

She returned from a break with a cosy Melton win on September 19 and will take another important step towards her NZ targets when she tries standing start racing from a 30m backmark in the McNamara Cup at Geelong on Saturday night.

“It’ll only be her second start in a stand, but she’s sensible and I’m sure it won’t be a problem,” Miles said.

“I’d rather forget her only other try. It was back in the Redwood Classic as a two-year-old when she would have won had another horse not veered off the track and wiped her out.”

Miles has also prepared the daughter of Aldebaran Eagle with three recent standing start trials at Melton.

“This will be the only stand she has before going to NZ,” Miles said. “She’ll go back to the mobile in another two weeks for the (Group 1) Bill Collins Sprint at Melton,” Miles said.

“Then it’s off to NZ a week after that. She’s on a flight to Auckland (from Melbourne) on Cox Plate Day (October 24).”

That’s because Miles wants to tick a big one off his bucket list by racing Rockinwithattitude at Kaikoura on Cup Day.

“I’ve never been, but like so many people, I watched it and always wanted to be part of it,” he said.

“Then it’s onto the Dominion, which I know won’t be easy and the stand will mean she loses one of her biggest weapons because she is such a fast beginner from the mobile.

“But then she gets to go back to the mobile for the (NZ) free-for-all on the Friday and that’ll be right down her alley, especially with a front row draw.

“It’s not a cheap exercise at around $30,000 for the trip, but she is a lovely mare and you know what you’re going to get with her.

“I’m sure she’ll really make her presence felt over there, especially with some of the other big name Aussies missing.”

The way it’s shaping, Rockinwithattitude and Gus may be the only open-class trotters Aussies who tackle Cup Week this year.