Staying star Miata ran 41.89 to in her heat of the Group 1 Albion Park Gold Cup (710m) on Thursday night and then drew box four in the rich final next week.
The daughter of Bombastic Shiraz-Winsome Bluebird scored by an ever creasing seven and a quarter lengths over Yowyeh with a nose to Abby Shiraz running on well for third.
Miata took her record to 24 wins and two placings from 28 starts.
“That was good for her first look at the track,” said trainer and part-owner Paul Stuart.
He reported Miata had travelled well from WA to Queensland for the series and he will stay here for the week leading up to the final.
He is kenneled with Dave Robartson at Churchable.
Stuart said Miata would be improved with Thursday night’s heat win.
“It was her first run in two weeks and she will benefit from the race,” he said. He admitted he had been a bit easy on the bitch after her Sandown Cup third.
The bitch will have her normal couple of straight gallops this week in preparation for the final.
Stuart said he was uncertain if Miata would stay to run in the Superstayers Invitation the week after the Gold Cup final.
“ADOPTED” Queenslander He Knows Uno surged to an impressive victory in his heat of the Group 1 Albion Park Gold Cup on Thursday night.
And trainer Mick Patterson warned rivals his dog would find “a little something” for next week’s rich final.
The son of Primo Uno-Honeymoon’s Over scored by a length and a quarter over Shimaguni with four lengths to Hail A Mail in third. It was his 26th win in 61 starts and his 14th at Albion Park.
Patterson was “over the moon” with the victory in the race he has targetted with his grand galloper for months.
“The speed was always going to be on in his heat and that was always going to play right into his hands,” said Mick.
“And that’s what happened.” Sandown Cup winner Irma Bale sped out to lead clearly but was quickly joined by Shimaguni and Hail A Mail.
He Knows Uno was well back at this stage but turning into the back straight he started to make ground. From the 600m boxes he surged up and near the line was running right away.
“This run will top him right off for the final,” said Patterson. “He was pretty wound up tonight but the run will do him good. It doesn’t matter where he draws in the final.
“I want lots and lots of early speed on in the final.
