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No distance fears for Cleaver Greene

3 minute read

Cairns trainer Rodney Miller has little doubt Cleaver Greene will handle a step up in distance in the Townsville Dollars at Cluden Park on Tuesday.

Cleaver Greene has only been in Miller's stable for two months after transferring from the Alex Malliff yard, and is unbeaten in two starts for his new trainer.

The son of Top Echelon won three of his 10 starts for Malliff before Cairns owners Josh Oliver and Helen Torpy sent him to Miller to train.

Cleaver Greene made a winning debut for Miller against his own age over 1200 metres at Cluden Park on June 12 and repeated the effort leading all the way over 1300 metres two weeks later in Townsville.

"I'm good mates with Alex but the owners wanted a change and he came to me in great order," Miller said.

"I've only had him for a short time and his last win over 1300 metres at Townsville was a very good effort.

"Since he's come to me, I've been teaching him to settle in his races as he's been a front runner all his life and you can't do that every time once the races get stronger."

Miller has mapped out a winter carnival campaign for Cleaver Greene, which could culminate in next month's Cairns Cup over 2100 metres on August 21.

"If he runs the 1400 metres tomorrow, he should win," Miller said.

"He'll then run in the Townsville Guineas over 1600 metres next month and if he runs well again, he'll go for the Cairns Cup."

Miller has 20 horses on his books and is planning to concentrate on the lucrative QTIS scheme next season.

"I've got 12 horses in work at the stable and another 8 or so out in the paddock," he said.

"I'm concentrating a lot of my efforts on QTIS races as I've got about 10 babies coming through that are eligible for QTIS."

The 66-year-old has been back training in Cairns for the past five years after gaining a wealth of experience working alongside some of the country's best trainers in Victoria for 20 years.

"I spent 12 years working for Lloyd Williams at Mount Macedon in Victoria," he said.

"I also worked for Gerald Ryan, Brian Mayfield-Smith, Graeme Rogerson and Leon Corstens along the way."

Miller, who returned to Cairns five years ago, rates the Roy Chillemi-trained Waterway and Robig as the main dangers to Cleaver Greene.


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