The Gr.1 $750,000 SEW Eurodrive Miracle Mile at TABCORP Park, Menangle this Saturday night marks the 48th edition of Australasia’s famed sprint race.
Many racing fans compare the Miracle Mile to the Cox Plate, the famous weight-for-age thoroughbred contest staged at Moonee Valley in October each year.
While the events are worlds apart, there are some striking similarities.
But harness racing purists embrace the Miracle Mile because of the theatre attached to the great race; invitations, number of starters and most importantly – time!
Since the great race changed homes back in 2009 from the famous Glebe circuit of Harold Park to the wide open spaces of Menangle, time has become the most important ingredient.
It was a massive transformation, a tight half mile circuit to a huge 1400m oval.
The fastest winning mile rate in a Miracle Mile recorded at Harold Park belongs to giant Kiwi pacer Iraklis who paced in 1;54.2 back in 1996 while since being staged at Menangle, the quickest time belongs to defending champion Beautide who clocked 1;50.2 last year.
But the fastest time in this part of the world belongs to recently retired champion and dual Miracle Mile winner Smoken Up who ran 1;48.5 winning the Gr.1 Len Smith Mile on April 30, 2011.
That time stands on its own as no other pacer has gone even close to that record time.
It was a monster mile.
So the question must be asked – can they give it a shake this weekend?
The 2014 field is loaded with star performers, brilliant speedsters and hard, tough and rough seasoned A-grader’s.
All of which possess silky skills that will make this a race to remember.
And recent weather conditions will play to the advantage of the eight invited runners with heatwave conditions hitting Sydney town in the last week while the track has recently been resurfaced.
In the space of twelve months, former Tasmanian pacer Beautide goes from the hunter to the hunted following his remarkable journey which has netted him the Miracle Mile, Inter Dominion and the Len Smith Mile (all of which staged at Menangle).
Since his victory in this event last year, the James Rattray trained and driven gelding has won 7 of his 10 starts at Menangle and his two most recent victories this month have been smacked with class and arrogance.
Beautide scored a decisive victory in a traditional lead-up event at his most recent start on November 15, the Gr.1 Coca-Cola Sprint defeating Guaranteed and Easy On The Eye in 1;50.4.
On Saturday night, the Bettors Delight seven-year-old will start from gate three and has been installed as a clear favourite by oddsmakers and punters alike.
Kiwi pacer Christen Me, a runner-up last year behind Beautide arrives in Sydney again hoping to go one better and his recent form is outstanding including his brilliant victory in the Gr.1 Woodlands FFA during New Zealand Cup week.
Christen Me will start from gate four, right alongside Beautide thus giving his world class reinsman Dexter Dunn a perfect view of his main danger.
While Christen Me is looking for revenge on Beautide, comeback pacer For A Reason will be hoping to blow both away and finishing a sound third last year.
Since returning from a stint at stud, the Art Major entire has won Grand Circuit events like the Victoria Cup and the Queensland Pacing Championship while running placings in the Inter Dominion, New Zealand Cup and this race last year.
His last start third in the New Zealand Cup on November 11 behind Adore Me and Franco Nelson in world record time was a career best effort.
For A Reason will start from gate five, a perfect draw which will give his highly decorated reinsman Luke McCarthy plenty of options for his lethal sit/sprint performer.
Emerging star Guaranteed has proven time and time again he loves the open spaces of Menangle with the Artsplace stallion only missing the board once in eight starts at the track.
His victory in last season’s Chariots of Fire in 1;50.4 was not only a career making statement, it was a season highlight which left seasoned racegoer’s stunned as he showcased his potential and wonderful raw power.
Last start, Guaranteed hit the line hard in the Gr.1 Coca-Cola Sprint when a runner-up to Beautide and his subsequent trial at his home track of Ballarat last weekend proved he’s ready for his biggest test to date.
Another horse that has ventured to the trials since their most recent start is Queenslander Avonnova, after smashing the track record in the Newcastle Mile, the free-legged pacer was kept up to the mark with a scorching trial at Albion Park last week in 1;53.7.
Ideally drawn in gate two, the Ian Gurney trained gelding looms as a key runner in all speed maps.
Shane Tritton, the only trainer with dual representation in this year’s feature with Easy On The Eye and Suave Stuey Lombo is also a key player in mapping the great race.
Both of his runners are natural free-running types, Easy On The Eye has drawn the coveted inside gate while notorious speedster Suave Stuey Lombo has drawn wide, starting from gate seven.
Suave Stuey Lombo proved too classy last weekend taking out the Gr.1 Cordina Sprint when leading throughout in 1;52.0 – his Menangle mile record is stunning highlighted by his 1;49.6 clocking back in June this year.
New Zealand Cups king Terror To Love is lining up for his fourth shot at Miracle Mile success but again, the barrier draw gods have cruelled his chances after landing the outside gate.
Prepared by father/son combination of Graham and Paul Court, the Western Terror entire gained an invitation despite missing a place in both the New Zealand Cup and Woodlands FFA at Addington earlier this month.
While Terror To Love is yet to win in seven starts at Menangle, he was placed in the first edition staged in 2013 when a runner-up behind Baby Bling.
Only time will tell if they can break the record this weekend.
