Courtesy The West Australian website:

ACE jockey Stephen Miller has flown to Melbourne early to give top WA galloper Old Fashion his final track run this morning for his Melbourne debut in Saturday's weight-for-age $400,000 Futurity (1400m) at Caulfield.

The dual-licensed horseman has given up drives at Gloucester Park and rides at Ascot to retain his association with Old Fashion, who gave him a career highlight in winning the $500,000 Railway Stakes last November.

Old Fashion, the Neville Parnham-trained Irish Pride, tiny filly Twin City Gold (Chris Willis) and Heavy Nova (Fred Kersley) give WA a strong support cast to Kersley's champion Northerly, who continues his Australian Cup preparation in the $100,000 Victoria Gold Cup (2020m).

Miller said last night trainer Vern Brockman had primed Old Fashion for a first-up assault on the Futurity.

"Vern picked the Futurity as one of his main targets and gave him plenty of work before taking him over this week," Miller said. "I could have gone over after the trots on Friday night but I want to give him his top-off gallop.

"Vern was very pleased with his work before the trip and with the way he has settled in at Caulfield."

The Kersley duo of Northerly and Heavy Nova completed their final work-outs in fine style yesterday morning, with Northerly's full-time strapper Sheree Hough riding the champion and former WA hoop Patrick Carbery on Heavy Nova.

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