Bernie Miller’s Jokers Grin gearing up for strong Ascot carnival campaign

Jokers Grin has emerged as one of Australia’s most promising young runners after winning each of his last three races. The Bernie Miller-trained gelding has not finished lower than fourth in his young career.  
 
The rising four-year-old is now being tipped to be one of the breakout sprinters from the upcoming 2024/25 Ascot Carnival. Miller has tempered expectations, but Jokers Grin could be one for horse racing betting fans to watch this spring.  

Jokers Grin’s form 

Jokers Grin has just four races under his belt so far in his young career. It is always risky to predict big things for a horse with so little experience, but Jokers Grin has been really impressive.  
 
He showed in his first two trials before stepping up to the competitive level at Belmont in the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Reunion (1200m). Jokers Grin finished forth in his debut. He has won in every race since.  
 
Jokers Grin has won his last three races: the Keep The Sheep Maiden; Macmahon Handicap; and Morley Growers Market Handicap. All three wins came in 1000m races, showing Jokers Grins skill as a sprinter.  
 
He has yet to be tested in any Group 1 races or in longer events, but that won’t be true for long. Jokers Grins is expected to run in multiple Group level races this spring.  

Trainer talks expectations 

As excited as horse racing punters are about Jokers Grins breakout winter campaign, his trainer, Bernie Millier, wants to temper expectations.  
 
Miller first praised his horse and revealed that Jokers Grin is going to rested before gearing up again in the spring.  
 
“He’s back working and looking good,” Miller said, “He’s up and going after three weeks off.  
 
“We’ll just take him through his grades, but the aim is to kick off in a 1000 metre race at Ascot on November 2,” he continued.  
 
“If everything goes to plan, he’s well in himself, I would like to have a crack at the Summer Scorcher. 
 
“That will be it and then a tiny little break again and you don’t know what’s around the corner. But, he’s looks absolutely fantastic, beautiful and that’s the plan at this point in time.” 

Early betting odds 

Part of the reason Bernie Miller was keen to lay out his plans for Jokers Grin so clearly was because of how the betting market has responded to the gelding’s strong winter.  
 
Jokers Grin is now one of the top five favourites to win the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on November 30.  
 
Despite the odds and the big expectations, Miller was adamant that his horse would not be in the running for that race.  
 
“I’m very happy with him, but he won’t be going to the Winterbottom,” Miller said confidently.