Soho Tribeca is poised to break through for a Grand Circuit victory at Menangle on Saturday night, when he lines up in the Miracle Mile (1609m).
The five-year-old narrowly missed out on winning the Group 1 Allied Express Sprint last week, going down a short half-head to Anything For Love.
Soho Tribeca has drawn favourably in barrier six for the $750,000 feature on Saturday, and is a $3.20 TABtouch favourite.
Lazarus, who is looking to add the Miracle Mile to the Inter Dominion, New Zealand Cup and Hunter Cup wins he has already had this season, has drawn the outside gate in the elite eight horse line up.
The Mark Purdon-trained pacer finished third behind Tiger Tara in the other Group 1 mile race at Menangle last weekend, the Canadian Club Sprint.
Despite the wide draw, Lazarus occupies the second line of betting at $3.50, while Tiger Tara, My Field Marshal and Anything For Love are all in single figures.
Trainer Michael Stanley said Soho Tribeca’s effort last weekend gave him confidence he would be able to add the Miracle Mile to his WA Pacing Cup win last month.
“I thought he was fantastic,” Stanley told TABradio’s The Sports Daily.
“Out of both of the heats last week, he was the only horse who hadn’t experienced the Menangle mile.
“To sit outside of the leader in 1.48.7 and only just go down, I thought it was a super run.”
Meanwhile, champion driver Chris Alford is confident last year’s Miracle Mile winner Lennytheshark can cause a boilover in the time-honoured event.
Lennytheshark defeated an outstanding field in last year’s event, with Mark Purdon’s trio Smolda, Lazarus and Our Waikiki Beach in second, third and fourth respectively.
Alford conceded Lennytheshark could find the mile too sharp this year, but said he couldn’t write off the 2015 Inter Dominion champion.
“He’s lost half a length of his real speed,” Alford told The Sports Daily.
“He’s getting a bit more dour now with his age.”
Lennytheshark is a $23 chance with TABtouch, and Alford said he didn’t mind carrying the underdog tag into the race.
“I’ll drive him a bit quieter and no one will be worrying about him,” he said.
“I’m sure he will be ready to go tomorrow night.”
