Miss Mini Mouse Cements Her Comeback
Dual Group 1 Melbourne Cup finalist Miss Mini Mouse made a mighty return to the winner's circle at The Meadows on Saturday night.
Trained by Paul Bartolo of Little River, Miss Mini Mouse has only started twice since finishing sixth to Shanlyn Prince in last year's Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Sandown Park.
Miss Mini Mouse also finished runner-up to her litter sister Betty's Angel – who is also on the comeback trail – in the 2006 Melbourne Cup.
Last week was an emotional rollercoaster for Bartolo and his wife Diane, as their foundation brood matron Leprechaun Miss, aged 13, passed away on Wednesday.
Leprechaun Miss's progeny earned more than $1 million in prize money, and a daughter, Leprechaun Yap, is the mother of Betty's Angel (winner of the 2006 Australian and Victorian Greyhound of the Year gongs), Miss Mini Mouse and last year's Group 1 Paws of Thunder winner Leprechaun Pace.
Miss Mini Mouse put a smile back on the Bartolos faces by taking out the Hudson Pacific Grade Four (525m).
In a keen betting affair, Miss Mini Mouse ($3.50F) defeated Tearaway Bale ($5.00) by two and a quarter lengths, with Dance The Tango ($39.20) one length away third in 30.29sec.
Miss Mini Mouse notched her 14th win (with eight seconds and four thirds) from 40 starts.