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FIFA World Cup 2026 posterMaiden win just what the doctor ordered
Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • June 1st, 2026 4:26 pm
Tardis winning at Te Aroha on Monday | Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
On a blustery day that ultimately led to the abandonment of racing at Te Aroha on Monday, homebred juvenile gelding Tardis broke through for a deserved victory in the Mlaadi Laurich (Young Laurich’s) Maiden 1150 for trainer Daniel Miller.
Bred and raced by Miller’s parents, John and Maree, Tardis made his debut in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Pukekohe last November, where he finished last, but he took plenty of benefit from a spell and returned with renewed vigour when placing over 1200m at Matamata last month.
Buoyed by that effort, Miller took plenty of confidence into Monday’s meeting, which was reflected in Warren Kennedy’s ride.
The senior hoop was positive out of the gates aboard the gelding, pushing him forward to take the lead, with race favourite Just The Berries sitting on his flank.
The pair entered a duel down the home straight, opening up several lengths on their rivals, and Tardis continued to maintain his advantage, proving too tough in the end to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Raymond, who flew home late to nab second by a nose over Just The Berries.
“We definitely had plenty of confidence, he worked with Sneaky Cyclone on Thursday and Sneaky couldn’t get past him,” Miller said.
“Today is the first time where he has found the front nicely and he has always been a horse that when he does get to the front, he doesn’t like horses getting past him.
“The favourite has shown plenty at the trials, but he (Tardis) has got that raceday experience and he has done a lot of work for a two-year-old, so he is quite mature, and I knew he would be in for the fight.”
Miller has plenty to contemplate over the coming days, with several options for Tardis over winter, while spring three-year-old targets are also in the mix.
“He definitely can go on a wet track, he has worked well on a very wet track,” Miller said. “He can go on top of the ground as well so whether we just look after him for the spring we will just see.”
Heavy gusts blew over several sections of the running rail at Te Aroha on Monday, ultimately leading to the meeting's abandonment | Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
With strong gusts throughout the meeting, the wind picked up prior to the start of race five, blowing over several sections of the running rail, and despite the best efforts of track staff, they were in vain, and the decision was made to abandon the meeting citing safety concerns.
“The wind has picked up throughout the day,” stipendiary steward Brady Jones said. “A section just past the winning post, prior to the start of race five and horses being loaded, fell over.
“The track crew did attempt to fix that but they weren’t having much luck and as soon as they finished that another section fell over near the 100m.
“They went to attend to that and the section that they had just fixed fell over again, so we brought the riders back from the start, we spoke with all the riders, and the decision was made to abandon the meeting.
“With how strong the wind is, you couldn’t guarantee that the rail wasn’t going to fall down throughout the rest of the day, so I think it was a fairly straightforward decision unfortunately.”
