Milo: Good for Young Bones & Old Memories

I had hardly been on course at Ellerslie on Boxing Day five minutes when I bumped into a work colleague who gave me a stable tip for Milo, a first starter down to race at Wingatui later that afternoon. My experience with stable tips lately had been as successful as buyouts of ailing finance companies so I stayed away from the tote but watched the race on the intertrack service with more than just a passing interest.

In a previous life, Milo was a game little Pakistan 2 mare who despite having the misfortune to be born around the same time as Silver Liner, Grey Way, Copper Belt, Kiwi Can, Orchidra, La Mer and co, fashioned a handy record as a open class sprinter/miler in the mid 1970's throughout the Central Districts. With my love of the chocolate and malt drink, and an enquiring and developing interest in the racing game, I was a keen follower of the mares fortunes, usually on my fathers transistor in the garden on a Saturday afternoon.

The modern day Milo kicked off his career most promisingly; a tallish, good barrelled, almost gangly type, he finished strongly into third despite some greenness in the home straight. Easy wins at his next two starts have the Coats Choice gelding a likely favourite for the Gore Guineas this weekend.

A $20,000 buy from the 2009 South Island Sale, Milo, still largely unfurnished apart from a lovely deep shoulder, should make a nice horse next season when fully developed.

Milo's emergence is timely for his sire, a lightly raced son of Redoutes Choice with oldest progeny just three-years of age and very limited raceday representation. Milo is not unlike others I have seen by the sire; they tend to exhibit physical characteristics which suggest time will be their best ally.

Coats Choice has eight yearlings entered in next months Karaka Festival Sale with seven hailing from his home Berkley Stud in Christchurch. Two appeal on pedigree and their purchase price probably won't require complete disclosure with the wife or girlfriend - lots 1246 and 1577.