Gun trainer Stephen Miller has probably heard the phrases before and particularly in the last couple of months.
The margins between success and failure are small.
Failure and success are flipsides of the same coin.
The more times you lose, the closer you are to a win.
With half a century of experience, Miller is well attuned to the changing fortunes of racing, but his patience in big races is being sorely tested.
Lose once and you can generally accept defeat with humility.
A second defeat is testing, but you can take it on the chin and move forward.
But if the losses keep coming, the goodwill fades and frustration creeps in.
If Miller thought the racing ‘gods’ were conspiring against him, who could blame him.
Surely Miller is due a change of luck in a feature race.
Since May, his top team of horses have run second or third in eight group and listed events.
Magnificent Andy, Elite Missile, Toropa and Kimberley Rose have gone close to victory, but ultimately have fallen short.
Magnificent Andy ran seconds in the Belmont Sprint (1400m) and Hyperion Stakes (1600m), a neck and long-head the losing margins
A short neck the difference between winning and losing for Elite Missile behind Opportunistic in the Raconteur Stakes (1400m).
At Bunbury on Saturday, Miller is placing his trust in Toropa to deliver an elusive feature race victory in the Listed Bolton Sprint (1200m).
Toropa enjoyed success under retired trainer Vern Brockman where she won five straight races to kick off her career before joining Miller’s camp.
Toropa, a daughter of Toronado, goes into the Bolton Sprint after a sound effort to run second to Repossession in the Beaufine Sprint (1000m).
Repossession completed a winning hat-trick in the Beaufine and is being touted as serious Ascot carnival contender later in the year.
Miller says Toropa’s effort behind Repossession was outstanding and a form reference for the Bolton.
“She went sensational and just ran into a better one on the day,” Miller said on Tabradio.
“He’s (Repossession) is an up-and-coming horse.
“She’s been going along pretty good and I’m looking forward to Saturday.
“She’s trained on well and she’ll appreciate a wet track.
“She’s got a bit of quality about her.”
Brad Parnham reunites with Toropa after partnering Repossession in the Beaufine.
On the 54kg minimum, she jumps from barrier eight.
Parnham is chasing his fourth Bolton Sprint trophy after booting home Phanta (2023), Profit Street (2017) and Electic (2007).
Meanwhile Miller says he expects Timeless Gem to make it two in a row when contesting the Machinery West Handicap (1400m).
