by Alan Parker
World Driving champion James MacDonald from Canada and American Marcus Miller have both fared better in the ballot for horses in the two heats of the Sky Racing/Slater Gartrell International Drivers Series which will conclude with a further two heats on Friday night (Dec. 8) at Gloucester Park.
While he hasn’t had any luck with decent barrier draws Marcus Miller has drawn the handy Ohoka Darcy in the second of Friday’s heats.
Ohoka Darcy, who will start from the inside of the second tier, won a heat and final of The Kersley on Nov. 17 and 24 before being caught wide last Friday in a heat of the Drivers Series and finished down the track.
He should get a good run from his draw on the back of pole marker Argyle Red which does have gate speed and will be driven by Todd McCarthy, who is the younger brother of Andrew McCarthy who has driven some 250 winners of $5.3 million in North America this season.
Miller’s first drive on Friday night is the handy 4-year-old Wrappers Delight which, although drawn on the outside of the second tier, is dropping back in class after his two previous unplaced starts in the Group One Yes Loans 4-year-old Classic and Group Two WA 4-year-old Championship.
Three starts ago Wrappers Delight was third to a couple of very smart 4-year-olds in Rocknroll Lincoln and Herrick Roosevelt in a prelude of the $200,000 Group One Golden Nugget, the final of which will be held on Friday night.
James MacDonald has drawn the pole in the first of Friday’s Drivers Series heats with the handy Skippy Rascal which has been placed at three of his previous five starts and which will enjoy his first decent draw in that period.
MacDonald’s drive in the second of Friday’s heats is Jaxon Fella which had no luck last start being held up for a clear run in the straight. Three starts ago he finished third to a couple of pretty handy horses in Johnny Disco and Zach Maguire.
Jaxon Fella is drawn in barrier two on the second tier but James MacDonald should be able to follow the speedy Sokys Bigbullet through at the start and be in a prominent position when the field settles down.
Hannah Miller has drawn the in-form mare Parisian Partygirl which will start from barrier three in the Retravision Invitation Ladies Drivers Challenge which appropriately is a race restricted to mares.
Parisian Partygirl was held up for a clear run at her last start when she finished seventh. Her previous start she dead-heated for first with Madame Meilland in a handy field at Northam after Parisian Partygirl had finished second in mares company at her two previous starts.
She gives Hannah Miller a good chance of winning at her first Gloucester Park drive.
- James MacDonald and the Miller family take Perth by storm for International Driving and Inter Dominion Series events (Sunday, December 03, 2017)
Visiting North American reinsmen James MacDonald and Marcus Miller found it hard to leave each other’s side finishing sixth and seventh in the opening heat and 11th and 12th in the second heat and both finished on eight points at the half-way point on the International Driving Series at Gloucester Park. Hannah Miller will be competing in the Lady Drivers Challenge, while Erv Miller meets his Australian colleagues.
- Millers just fourth family to have brother and sister drive at same Gloucester Park meeting (Tuesday, December 05, 2017)
When American brother and sister Marcus and Hannah Miller get into the bike on Friday night (Dec. 8) they will become just the fourth brother and sister to drive at the same Gloucester Park meeting.