It’s the best mile race in Australasian Harness Racing, and come Saturday night, eight of the best pacers in Australasia will battle it out for $750,000 prizemoney in the Group l Miracle Mile (1609m).
The showpiece in Menangle, Sydney, was last won by an odds-on favourite in 2008, when Blacks a Fake took out the title. Beautide, the 2013 winner, will start as favourite this year.
Let’s take a closer look at Beautide and the other runners.
1. Easy On The Eye
The second stringer for Shane Tritton has been excellent in two runs this time in, winning first up at Newcastle before sticking on really well in the Coca-Cola when third to Beautide. But he did have his chance, and the winner did all the work, so I highly doubt he can turn the tables.
He will punch forward early, but best scenario will be behind the leader in Avonnova. Just lacks the class to win this great race.
2. Avonnova
Twelve months ago he was plodding around in no metro win races. Fast forward to now and he is a Miracle Mile contender, which is a real testament to the training ability of Ian Gurney.
He was near unbeatable back in Queensland before coming down for the Newcastle Mile where he copped immense pressure in front then kicked clear on the turn and held on for a superb win. Different kettle of fish that will be chasing him here now, but he will lead and does grow a few lengths when in front, so I think he is a definite first four contender.
3. Beautide
He’s not unbeatable like Black Caviar, but in terms of freakness in the way he wins, he is up there with the mare. Stunning win in the Nick Robin, then backed it up with an unbelievably courageous Coca-Cola Sprint triumph.
He is the defending champ, along with being the current Interdominion champ. It’s scary to think that he will get the run of the race and that he more than likely won’t have to do as much work as what he has done in recent starts. $1.75 looks pretty good.
4. Christen Me
He is the only threat to Beautide, but he will be a serious threat. He completely bungled the start in the New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington and can be forgiven, then backed up and won the FFA.
He has an explosive turn of foot and Dexter Dunn, his driver, will follow every move James Rattray makes on Beautide. If the favourite is off his game, this is your winner I feel because he has such an explosive turn of foot, and his run in this race 12 months was mind boggling.
5. For A Reason
He was outstanding in the New Zealand Trotting Cup when third to Adore Me. He is not a horse known for doing work and finding at the end, but he showed plenty of grit at Addington and was very strong on the line, and actually coming again.
He hasn’t been seen since then and is coming into this fresh, and normally that isn’t the ideal when running in the Miracle Mile. In saying that, he will appreciate the hot speed and be charging late.
6. Chariot King (second emergency)
Grand campaigner for John Tapp, but won’t gain a start. Even if he does, he won’t be threatening.
7. Guaranteed
Rising star for Emma Stewart, who has an astonishing strike rate when bringing her horses to Menangle. This horse ran second to Beautide in the Coca-Cola, and perhaps pilot error cost him.
I think driver Gavin Lang saw Beautide under pressure and peeled out a fraction early. Had he waited longer, he would have made things interesting. Had he drawn to be behind Beautide, I’d give him a really serious chance, but I think he will be a tad too far back.
8. Suave Stuey Lombo
Pre barrier draw, he was the most fascinating runner, and post barrier draw, that remains the case. This horse only knows one way to run, and that is fast, although he wasn’t really asked for the supreme effort when winning the Cordina Sprint on Saturday night, getting a very cheap opening half before dashing up the Menangle straight.
The speed will come from Easy On The Eye, Avonnova and Suave Stuey Lombo, and with Easy On The Eye being the stablemate, I doubt David Morris will want to hold the lead with the polemarker given Lauren will be three wide on the preferred stable horse. Can he sit parked and win this? I’d say no, but he has proven in the past he can do work and clock a really fast mile rate.
9. Bettor Bet Black (first emergency)
Did really well to run second to the horse above on the weekend, but is outclassed.
10. Terror To Love
It’s quite amazing with this New Zealand horse and the barriers he has drawn when racing at Menangle. Taking away scratchings, in seven starts at Menangle he has drawn gates 8, 7, 7, 10, 7, 6 and 14, all of which in the best races such as the Interdominion, Miracle Mile and Len Smith Mile.
The best case scenario for this horse is that he eases, drops to three back the pegs and hope for a miracle. He will go down as a legend of New Zealand Harness Racing, but he won’t be winning this.
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