'LITTLE BALL OF MUSCLE' MIKKI ROSE UPSETS SHORT-PRICED FAVOURITE AT THE SUNSHINE COAST

By Graham Potter | Sunday, April 3, 2022

A day after saluting on Tyresa under the Metropolitan spotlight, Du Plessis was at it again winning on the Stewart Mackinnon trained Mikki Rose in a QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap over 1000m at the Sunshine Coast.

Just like Tyresa, Mikki Rose, who drew some support to start at $6.50, also had a short-priced favourite to contend with … this time in the form of Jamaican Rumba who jumped at the restrictive odds of $1.28.

Jamaican Rumba took up the running from the break, but Du Plessis had no intention of allowing the favourite free rein at the front and he set Mikki Rose about tracking the leader with some meaning, lurking just over a length back on the favourite’s outside, just letting him know he was there.

In the straight, after having to be balanced up, Mikki Rose slowly but surely began to make in-roads into Jamaican Rumba’s lead and the favourite was already in trouble coming through the 200m mark with Du Plessis now pushing his mount out in telling fashion.

It did take another 100m for Mikki Rose to finally put Jamaican rhumba away, but by the 100m mark it was ‘race over’ with Du Plessis taking a cheeky look over his left shoulder to make certain nothing was improving into contention from behind. There was nothing to see!

The final margin of victory of 2.50 lengths (from the $17 chance Ultimate Outcome who got up to relegate a weakening Jamaican Rumba back to third) aptly summed up Mikki Rose’s absolute authority on the day.

A confident ride by Du Plessis and a perfect performance by Mikki Rose had earned its due reward.

“I rode her before she raced and I thought she was a very nice filly,” said Du Plessis.

“She’s little, but she is like a little ball of muscle. She’s going to grow a bit more obviously as time goes on.

“She is a real speedy type. She isn’t quite sure just what’s going on just yet … in fact, today we probably hit the front too soon because I though Robbie’s horse (Robbie Fradd was riding Jamaican Rumba) would test us … would kick and I might battle to get past it … but I got past him in about one stride and then she got a bit lost.

“It was a good result, especially riding my first winner for Stewart (Mackinnon). They are a lovely family. Always … since day one … they have giving me support, so it was great getting that winner for them!”

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