Innovates extends commanding series lead

By Jordan Gerrans

In the space of a few short weeks, Cairns trainer Rodney Miller and resurgent galloper Innovates have almost put the Magic Millions Far North Queensland Up and Coming Stayers Series to bed for 2026. 

The popular local series comprises nine races, starting in April and finishing in July, with a cash bonus on offer for the winning trainer, jockey and horse’s connections. 

The series usually goes down to the wire, with several chances leading into the last few legs. 

This time around – Innovates has gone bang, bang and bang once again in recent weeks. 

The brown gelding has won three straight races in the series, scoring at Cairns, Mount Garnet and Gordonvale to create a big lead with nine points, as three points are awarded for every victory. 

A total of nine points has been a competitive enough total to win the FNQ Up and Coming Stayers Series in previous years. 

The 70-year-old Miller had this series in mind for Innovates last year before the son of Hellbent hit form at the perfect time. 

“I always thought this series would suit him,” the former jockey-turned-trainer said.

“He's had three runs for three wins. So, we're pretty spot on. He's a good horse, he is a lovely horse, but he had no confidence previously.

“The only way we could ride him was to take him around the outside. But, now he is racing true and he's taking runs up on the inside.

“So, he's really starting to fire. He is a lovely horse.

“I'm really happy with him, he couldn't be going any better.”

Innovates previously spent time in the stables of Richard Collett and Matthew Park before making his way to Cairns’ Cannon Park. 

He won at his second effort for Miller at Cairns in July of last year before putting in nine winless efforts. 

Despite not winning on nine occasions, the six-year-old placed five times, which preceded his recent hat-trick run of form.

The Up and Coming Stayers Series heads to Mareeba next Saturday for the fifth leg of the 2026 event.

The series was initially implemented to give horses with lower ratings an opportunity to race over staying trips and look to eventually qualify for NQ Cup races later in the year.

Miller is likely to take Innovates to Mareeba for one more run before putting him in the paddock and bringing him back for the Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.

“If he can win at Mareeba, that gives him four wins and that’ll nearly win the series for him,” Miller said.

“He'll have 12 points if he can win at Mareeba and it will make it very hard for any other horse to beat him from there.

“If he wins that, then I will give him a break and I'll bring him back for the carnival.

“I will just give him a crack at the Cups, anyway because he will be a lightweight chance.”

Miller has downscaled his stable in recent years and now prepares a team of four.

Miller and Innovates have a four-point lead in the series over trainer Scott Cooper and The Honey Badger. 

Hoop Lacey Morrison has been in the saddle for all three of Innovates’ recent wins and heads the jockey leaderboard in the series with nine points and is well clear of the chasing pack. 

“It is great that I have been able to jag the ride on Innovates,” Morrison said.

“He is coming along really nice, that horse.

“I think it is a really good series because there is a lot of horses who get over a trip, but they are just not good enough to make the big Cup races up here.

“I think it is a great series every year. It gives chances to lots of our horses.”

The Magic Millions FNQ Up and Coming Stayers Series was first held in 2014 and was introduced after racing administrator Rob Koch broached the concept with local clubs.

The popular series in FNQ is now named after Koch after the ­administrator and horse owner passed away in March of 2020 after years involved in several different roles within the racing industry.

The managing owner of the horse that accrues the most points in the series wins $4,000, with $2,000 going the way of winning trainer while champion jockey receives $1,000 and a new whip courtesy of the Cairns Jockey Club.