Lucas Miller has ray of hope for 2yo

Ex-rugby league player Lucas Miller has turned his attention to horses including Raay Of Dreams.

In-form NSW jockey Andrew Gibbons will make the trip to Brisbane to ride Raay Of Dreams with Jeff Lloyd deciding to stick with Alligator Blood.

The return clash of Raay of Dreams and Alligator Blood in the Two-Year-Old Handicap (1300m) will be a highlight of Saturday’s Eagle Farm meeting.

The two raced each other at the Sunshine Coast on January 26 with Alligator Blood winning and Raay of Dreams third in the $125,000 2YO Classic (1200m).

Jeff Lloyd rode Alligator Blood and has since won on Raay of Dreams at Doomben two weeks ago.

After the Doomben win Lloyd said he felt he had repaid Raay Of Dreams’ connections because at the Sunshine Coast he had been able to dictate the filly into a less than advantageous position.

Raay Of Dreams was bred by former top rugby league player Lucas Miller who is now a stable manager for Newcastle trainer Kris Lees.

“I put Raay Of Dreams through the Inglis Classic sale but when she was passed in I put together a syndicate to race her,” Miller said.

Raay Of Dreams has already repaid Miller’s faith with a win and two placings from her three starts.

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“If you read between the lines with Jeff’s comments after he won on her at Doomben he probably felt she should have finished a lot closer to Alligator Blood at Caloundra,” Miller said.

“It should be a good race and Andrew Gibbons who rides a lot for us is going to Brisbane to ride four horses for us.”

Gibbons has been in great form having won 87 races this season including Sunday’s Country Championship qualifying heat at Port Macquarie on Lucciola Belle.

Raay Of Dreams has been entered for the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes but no decision will be made on her future until after Saturday.

Miller’s rugby league career was cut short by a knee injury and he turned his attention to horses.

He was a Newcastle Knights junior and inaugural Melbourne Storm under-20s captain and had a stint with French club Toulouse.

“I haven’t played for about five years after getting an infection in a knee injury while playing in France,” he said.

“But I am really enjoying working for a top trainer such as Kris.”