Xtravagant's Handler Jumps to Action

The Waikato Times reports:

Daniel Miller made an early splash at the start of the jumps season in 2014.

Miler, then aged 17, was still learning the ropes but wily Whanganui trainer Kevin "Dummy" Myers recognised his talent and the fact he could claim a few kilograms in weight relief.

Miller and Myers combined at the Te Rapa meeting to score noteworthy wins with Sea King and Snodroptwinkletos.

At this year's edition of the meeting, Miller has a prime opportunity to match those deeds.

Now with 21 wins to his name, a slightly older and wiser Miller is one of New Zealand's most promising jumps jockeys, but before the 2016 jumps season swung into action he experienced a different side of racing ...

As strapper and trackwork rider of glamour colt Xtravagant he rode the emotions of glory and defeat during the summer.

As the winner of the 2000 Guineas against his own age group and the NRM Sprint against all-comers, the Pentire colt earned favouritism for the Australian Guineas in Melbourne.

He disappointed there and at Trentham in the Levin Stakes (due to an off track) but he took Miller on a wonderful ride.

"It was something different and he took me on my first trip to Aussie which was good," Miller said.

"I ride him most mornings - he's a class horse and it's good to ride one like him."

Miller, whose best win over jumps to date was the Manawatu Steeplechase on Upper Cut, is hoping he can enjoy a wonderful ride this winter.

The jumpers haven't got the class of Xtravagant but they put in the hard yards and Miller thinks that will stand Brer in good stead in the Ken & Roger Browne Memorial Steeplechase (4000m).

"We think he will go a big race," Miller said. "He has done the work and schooled well [at Te Rapa] the other day and he's had a school around Matamata.  He likes the ground a bit firm which he should get on Saturday and with a couple of flat runs under his belt he's quite forward."

Brer is trained by Xtravagant's conditioners Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards while the Bob Autridge-trained Tu Meta Peta gives Miller a chance in the maiden hurdle (2800m).

"I started jumping the horse last year and he jumps great," Miller said. "Saturday's a starting point for him but he could go a cheeky race."

Millers' other ride is the Peter Stewart-trained Maharishi, who he rode to a close third in last year's Waikato Hurdles.

"He worked strongly up Mrs Browne's hill [at Cambridge] on Tuesday and was keen when I rode him in a recent jumping trial but he might need a bit of rain to show his best."