Caloundra galloper Victory Eight (NZ) (Nadeem) will take the first step towards rich mile races during the Brisbane summer carnival when he resumes at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Victory Eight is first-up in the DSS Law Open (1200m) in a race trainer Trevor Miller believes will give a good guide to the gelding’s summer chances.
Racing Queensland has poured a lot of prize money into the summer carnival with 1600m races such as the Brisbane Handicap, Recognition Stakes and Bernborough Handicap key parts of its plan.
Miller hopes Victory Eight can get his share of the prize money and has good reason to be confident.
Victory Eight was the surprise-packet of the late winter carnival, winning two races and finishing second at Eagle Farm at his last start before a spell.
“Jim Byrne has ridden him at his past four starts and he is adamant Victory Eight is a genuine “miler”. His last run was at 1800m and it was a very good effort,” Miller said.
“They dawdled in front and he wasn’t suited by the pace. I think eventually he will get out to at least 2000m because he is a half-brother to Cylinder Beach.”
The Desleigh Forster trained Cylinder Beach (NZ) (Showcasing) won the Toowoomba Cup and showed enormous potential as a stayer before breaking down in the 2017 O’Shea Stakes at Doomben.
Victory Eight has shown a liking for his home track at the Sunshine Coast where he has won six races.
Miller had intended for Victory Eight to resume at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday but he was ineligible for the race he had chosen.
“His rating was a touch high for that race so he can go around at Eagle Farm,” Miller said.
“His only time there was good and he is a big track horse.”
“He had a trial over 840m against some smart short course horses and he finished off nicely which was what I wanted.”
Victory Eight is a good wet-track horse but Miller is resigned to striking good tracks this summer.
“Eagle Farm seems to soak up any rain but Victory Eight isn’t just a wet track horse.”
