Dan's the Man

The New Zealand Owners Federation recently published this story by executive member Neil Miller on Te Akau apprentice Daniel Miller ... it is reprinted here with its permission .... more details about the organisation can be found below ...

The greater Miller clan is substantial and its spread wide. They are all sizes some toward the large, such as myself. From what I have seen they are a hard working lot, many from the land. The clan can even boast to having a rocket scientist that worked for Nasa in their number but that's certainly not me.  Dan's one of the last born in his family as was his father and grandfather on the Miller side so he is young in his family peer group.

Dan comes from Te Puke where his dad John has a forestry business and his mum, the hard working Maree runs the family lifestyle block. The siblings are from oldest, Sara, Adam, Craig Daniel and Lilly.

His mother Maree's family were the Craigs from Te Awamutu and Benny Craig, Maree's father was a jumps jockey who lost his life in a jumping accident at a Te Rapa in 1969. He was just 29 years old leaving his wife Marlene with two children. Maree was 5 and her brother Michael 3. The whole community felt the loss as well. Benny though a quiet young man had a great singing voice and people would get him to sing at socials in the district, so he was very popular.

Benny's widow Marlene later married Ernie Thornton. Ernie was into the harness game as an owner, trainer and driver, today he has a connection with thoroughbreds with shares of horses at Te Akau. Ernie has been a big influence in Dan's life. Marlene says that that has been key in Dan's success.

Maree married John Miller whose father Jack of Greenmeadows, Napier had also owner/trained some horses, notably winning Taupo Cups with Dollar Princess and Dollar Charlie.

There were always horses on the block when Daniel and his siblings were growing up. When Daniel was very young he told everyone he wanted to ride them. That got him a year of lessons and his first pony. Then Margaret Lees set up an equestrian education centre on the next property that had good jumps and Daniel came under her tutelage. Margaret gave him a great start with riding and horsemanship skills. She said he had soft hands, great balance, he listened and did what he was told. That led him into pony club along with his sister Lilly and they were such proficient riders it was easy for them to be successful.

There was a long held desire by the lad to become a jockey but it was put aside when he progressed into NZEF Showjumping. Here he was very competitive and rode to the premier level. He dabbled in dressage and really enjoyed eventing and hunting.
Daniel was attending college at Te Puke and playing soccer for the local club but he really wanted to get into race riding. Through his grandparents the Thornton's he wangled a school holiday job at Te Akau's stables. That later led him to apply to Mr. Bridgman for a full time job.

Te Akau was brilliant as they got the lad accommodation with stable foreman Tommy Hazlett and his partner Pam Gerard (Te Akau Assistant Trainer) and the two young children.

I asked Daniel if Tommy was a mentor to him and he said, “Yes definitely, I learn as much as I can from him. But Pam too, she is such a great horsewoman that I am getting those skills as well”. There is some regard coming the other way as Tommy said he was quite misty eyed when Daniel rode his first winner on Goosebumps in 2013.

Arriving at Te Akau Daniel rode work on the first morning. He said it took a while getting used to riding with a watch on his arm but it has taught him how to pace a horse. I said to him, “You've had an ‘off' in a race. What happened and did it affect you?”

He said, “Yes and I think I know what caused it. Rider error I think and I learned from that. If you dwell on experiences like that you wouldn't ride jumps anymore”

At aged 16 Daniel took himself to the UK to see and learn about the jumps scene there. He financed it from his savings and by selling his good pony after paying back money he owed on it to his parents. They and Tommy Hazlett hooked him up with some contacts. He spent a couple of months based with trainer Charlie Longsdon at Chipping Norton.

Talking about Mr Longsdon Dan said,“ He had eighty in work, all jumpers, and I was riding out and schooling horses.  I went racing three times to Cheltenham, Newbury, and to the Welsh National in Wales. The jumping scene over there is massive, a whole different world, and they can have four different jumps meetings on one day.

“I spent a week with Warren Greatrex at the training centre in Lambourn. He only had jumpers and I rode a few gallops. It was good to be there.”

Although not meeting him, Daniel was close to and saw the legendary AP McCoy ride. In November last year, McCoy rode his 4000th winner after being named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2010.

“I saw him ride heaps of times and was a couple of metres away from him at one stage but I didn't actually get to meet him,” said Miller.

“He's a class above everyone else, really. He out-thinks everyone, knows what his horse has got left and knows what those around have got left in their horse as well. You just have to watch him to know - him and Ruby Walsh.”

“I loved the whole experience, definitely, it was huge. While I was there I went up Wales to stay with Shaun Phelan and his partner and rode a few of their point-to-point horses.”
Now Daniel is trying to use what he learned and to bring more thinking into his riding and if you watch his rides closely that shows.

So it's all at his feet. Got a good job doing what he loves. Working for a top outfit Staying with real good people. Tommy is booking some rides for him. Got a trusty Hyundai and a smartphone. Got his own email. Maree proudly says he has done it by himself.

Dan is a gun for hire and he has got 7 wins under his belt so far. Recently he got himself all the way to Riverton for some rides. There was a bit of help with a travel subsidy from the club but it was mostly on his own dollar. It's not easy, but with a bit of support he will do what it takes. Not bad for a guy 17 years of age!

Daniel acknowledges the support Te Akau have given him but it's easier I daresay to do that if the subject is a thoroughly decent and apparently talented youngster. He says he is really appreciative of the owners and trainers that put him on. I would say they know what they are doing and have a good idea what they will get back.

I asked him, had he thought ahead as to where he would go in life. He said at this point he just wants to take his race riding as far as he can. He said after that he would always want to work with horses.

No doubt people in the UK refer to AP McCoy as the Real McCoy. Let's look ahead to Dan The Man.

The New Zealand Owners Federation says - we work for you and we extend a warm welcome for all Te Akau owners to join our ranks and help us build up the great sport of racing.  If you go to www.racehorseowner.co.nz you can learn about us. There is a join up form there, links to Sponsors and web copies of recent bulletins you can read.