It had been 17 months since Mickilla Express last lined up in a race but the gelding looked like he’d never been away with his win in the Radio 2DU/Zoo FM Pace (1720 metres) on Sunday.
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The Mark Hewitt-trained five-year-old spent 14 months in the paddock after tearing a tendon in 2015.
After some good trial results, he started as a $1.80 favourite at the Dubbo Showground and after a slow start was able to lead for almost the entire race.
Hewitt, and Mickella Express’ owners Michael Hunter and Tony Johnston were delighted by the gelding’s return.
“It’s his first start in 17 months after an injury. Drawing number one made it easy for him,” Hewitt said.
“He nearly didn’t hold the lead early but was able to and that was good.
“Once he landed and had it pretty easy in front I thought he would be able to win the race.
“He only had two trials but we were pretty confident he would go well. He’s a handy horse and a real switched-on little race horse.”
The progeny of Strong Life x Mickilla Lass was beaten off the start by Mister Stewart ($6.20) and Christian Shannon ($38.30).
However Hewitt was able to get him alongside his opponents and use the inside line to take the lead with Christian Shannon keeping him company.
They covered the first half of the last mile in 64.3 seconds and the pair retained the lead as they greeted the bell.
Mister Stewart started to make his run as they completed the third quarter in 31.8 seconds while Lockton Art ($13.10) was also in striking distance.
However it was Mickilla Express who had been able to save some energy during the race and was able to race away in the run to the line.
He finished 2.1 metres clear of Mister Stewart, finishing with a final quarter of 28.2 seconds for a mile rate of 2:03.6.
Lockton Art was 4.8 metres away in third. The rest of the field was more than 25 metres behind.
The owners bred the gelding themselves and Johnston said they had nursed him back from injury confident that he could still have some success.
They are now looking towards the popular Canola Cup carnival at Eugowra and hoping Mickilla Express can find himself in the prize money there, but they acknowledge it will be tough.
“He will have another run in a fortnight, probably at Parkes, and then we will look at the heats of the Canola Cup,” Johnston said.
“Hopefully he will have a bit more knick on him by then because it will be a much tougher race.”
