Millmans in the money: Super Sprint win makes it all worthwhile says trainer

Rod Millman hailed a day that makes it all worthwhile as the Devon trainer basked in the glory of his big double at Newbury on Saturday, headlined by the success of £3,000 buy Bettys Hope in the £250,000 Super Sprint.

Two-year-old filly Bettys Hope claimed the £122,925 first prize before Sufficient recorded the third victory of her career in the mile handicap.

Both successes came by small margins – a head and a nose – and on a day Millman's other runners on the card both finished last.

Speaking on Sunday, Millman said: "It was amazing really, it could easily have been two seconds! It was a bit of a mixed day with the other two we fancied both finished last, but it was a great day and it's those days that make it all worthwhile.

"I love training and I feel very lucky to have been in racing since I was 15 years old – I've never been out of it one day since."

The victory of Bettys Hope carried even more weight for Millman as not only is the winner owned by his wife Louise, but the success brought back magic memories of Lord Kintyre's victory in the same five-furlong contest in 1997.

Rod Millman collects the Weatherbys Super Sprint trophy following the victory of Bettys HopeCredit: Mark Cranham

Explaining why his wife was not present for the victory, the trainer said: "My son James is away motor racing and she's part of his pit crew. My other son Pat is riding in America so it was lucky my sister came racing with me otherwise I'd have been Billy No Mates last night. My wife might have been a little disappointed not to be there but she'll be all right once the cheques come in!"

He added: "We've got a big celebration planned for Tuesday when we'll take all the lads out – if you don't do it pretty quickly these things can get forgotten about. We're only a smallish yard, we train only around 40 horses, so to have a winner like that is special. I'm very lucky to have really good lads working for me."

Lord Kintyre's win may have been 22 years ago but the significance of the victory has never been forgotten.

Millman said: "We've still got him. He lives out in the paddock during the summer and comes in during the winter now. He was very good to me all those years ago and I've spent every moment since trying to pay it back to him."

After 24 winners already this year, Millman – who is best known for training popular stayer Sergeant Cecil – is on course to register his best total since 2011.

Bettys Hope (left) overhauls Show Me Show Me at the end of the Weatherbys Super SprintCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

He said: "We buy only three or four horses a year and nearly all our horses come from owner-breeders. Invariably they are types that turn into handicappers – it's very hard for trainers like me to win two-year-old maidens nowadays. Most of them need a bit more time or haven't sold and come to us straight from studs."

One who fits that mould is Showcasing filly Sufficient, who runs in the colours of Whitsbury Manor Stud and became the second leg of the trainer's memorable double, despite being hampered by a notable visual impairment.

"She's got proper sight in only one eye, which makes her very hard to train and race," Millman added. "If something touches her on her blind side it frightens her. You have to be very careful with her – the first week she was in the yard she stood on someone's toe and I said, 'Well what do you expect? She can't see it'. But now she's getting better each time she races.

"She's a great big filly and can only improve. She's the biggest and probably the best filly I've ever had."

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