The encouraging start Te Toro Pearl has made to her career has come as a pleasant surprise to Cambridge trainer Jon Miller.

The daughter of Bullbars has won consecutive races and will chase a hat-trick when she steps out at Tauranga on Saturday in the Sanpellegrino 3YO Premier (1400m).

“When I first got her she was nothing extraordinary, but since she trialled and had her first race the penny has really dropped,” Miller said.

Te Toro Pearl was sixth on debut and then broke her maiden at New Plymouth before a follow-up success at Avondale.

“I’ve tried to keep her to her own age group on these heavy tracks and this race fits in well,” Miller said.

“She’s thrived after her last two runs, she’s eating well and her work has been good. She hasn’t missed a beat.”

Te Toro Pearl has yet to race beyond 1200m and Miller is drawing confidence from the filly’s pedigree for Saturday’s test.

“Hopefully, she gets the 1400m – her mother Te Toro Lass did,” he said. 

“She relaxes in the running and she hasn’t gone backwards so we’ll see what happens on Saturday. There is a three-year-old race at Taranaki next month, we might look at that.”

Miller will also be represented by Waipipi Lad in Saturday’s Seeka Premier Handicap (1600m).
The multiple winner and stakes placegetter is coming off an unplaced performance at Ruakaka.

“The track was a bit too good for him there,” Miller said. “Sam (Spratt) had him in a lovely place, but he didn’t kick on.

“We’ll claim to get a bit of weight off his back and put the blinkers back on.”

In-form apprentice Jasmine Fawcett will reduce Waipipi Lad’s weight to 55kg