There’s plenty at stake this Saturday night.
The Gr.1 $750,000 Ainsworth Game Technology Miracle Mile is the next leg of the Australian Pacing Gold Grand Circuit, leg seven of eight for the 2016/17 season.
And the race is on to be crowned Grand Circuit champion!
As it stands, mighty New Zealand four-year-old Lazarus leads the way (200 points) from Bling It On (160) while Smolda sits third (125).
This mighty trio clash this weekend.
So prizemoney isn’t the only major attraction this weekend, victory for one of the above mentioned stars is almost certainly going to give those bragging rights as the latest Grand Circuit champion.
And what a stage.
The Miracle Mile is long considered the most talked about harness event on the calendar owing to so many varying degrees including field selection and time.
Who deserves an invitation and what time will they run?
The time issue has become even more apparent following the move from Harold Park to the wide open spaces of Menangle back in 2009.
This is the race that captures the imagination and certainly, the opinion of all harness racing followers spread across the southern hemisphere, big and small.
First staged back in 1967, the vision was pure with a simple aim of breaking the 2 minute barrier under race conditions on Australian soil.
That became a reality when New Zealand mare Robin Dundee won the inaugural edition in a time of 1:59 for Bob Cameron, the Miracle Mile was underway.
Victories from Halwes, Adaptor, Lucky Creed and Mount Eden followed and all posted sub 2 minute times.
In fact, the list is short for those that haven’t busted the 2 minute barrier winning the country’s premier speed test with Bay Foyle, Pure Steel, The Scotsman, Locarno and Chokin (dual winner - 1993 edition) all recording times of 2:00.0 or slower.
The slowest winning time belongs to The Scotsman at 2:00.7 when successful back in 1979.
How times have since changed.
Many are wondering if the 2017 version will better the mark set last year by Have Faith In Me who won in a race record time of 1:47.5.
Last year, that race was staged in broad daylight on a Sunday afternoon while this weekend, the Miracle Mile reverts back to its Saturday night timeslot.
Another great name will etch their way into the record books to join a very elite group of previous Miracle Mile winners.
The honour roll is superb with the likes of Reichman, Hondo Grattan, Young Quinn, Paleface Adios, Royal Force, Friendly Footman, Gundary Flyer, Popular Alm, Double Agent, Preux Chevalier, Village Kid (x 2), Master Mood, Our Maestro, Westburn Grant (x 2), Christopher Vance, Franco Tiger, Norms Daughter, Iraklis, Our Sir Vancelot, Christian Cullen, Holmes DG (x 2), Smooth Satin, Double Identity, Sokyola (x 2), Be Good Johnny (x 2) and Divisive joining the already mentioned as Miracle Mile champions at Harold Park.
Since moving to Menangle, the winners have included Monkey King, Smoken Up (x 2), Baby Bling, Beautide, Christen Me and last year’s victor Have Faith In Me.
Only three mares have won the great race – Robin Dundee, Norms Daughter and Baby Bling and the there is no representation in the 2017 edition.
Three stallions will start this weekend; Bling It On, Lennytheshark and Lazarus – one is hoping to become the 22nd winner and the first since Christian Cullen scored back in 1998.
Five geldings will face the starter; Smolda, Our Waikiki Beach, Salty Robyn, Yayas Hot Spot and Hectorjayjay – if successful, one will become the 26th winner and continue the recent pattern where geldings have won the past three editions.
Of the eight competing drivers, only Natalie Rasmussen (Our Waikiki Beach) has tasted previous success after landing the prize last year with Have Faith In Me.
Rasmussen is one of three females to have driven a Miracle Mile winner with Kellie Kersley (1996) and Jodi Quinlan (2004) also successful.
The most successful drivers in the Miracle Mile are Vic Frost (1970, 1989/90), Tony Herlihy (1991, 93 & 94) and Lance Justice (2003, 2010 & 11) all with three each.
And only two trainers in this year’s edition have prepared a previous winner, John McCarthy and Mark Purdon.
McCarthy trained dual Miracle Mile champion Be Good Johnny (2005/06) while Purdon prepared Have Faith In Me last year.
The most successful trainer of Miracle Mile winners is Barry Purdon (1991, 93, 94, 99 & 2000) with five while Lance Justice (2003, 04, 10 & 11) has four.
Domination in this event is rare but this year, the All Stars stable of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen have three of the eight runners including race favourite Lazarus.
To date this season, the All Stars have won 4 of the 6 APG Grand Circuit events staged with Lazarus winning both the New Zealand and Victoria Cups while Smolda (Inter Dominion) and Our Dream About Me (Auckland Cup) have also tasted glory at the elite level.
Lazarus starts from gate six, the last start Chariots Of Fire winner is looking to become the first horse since Double Identity back in 2002 to win from that draw.
Smolda has drawn the coveted inside gate with Anthony Butt to drive, the last winner from the inside draw was Smoken Up back in 2011 while Our Waikiki Beach will be handled by Natalie Rasmussen and starts from gate three, the last winner from that draw was Baby Bling back in 2013.
Hunter Cup winner Bling It On with Luke McCarthy driving will start from gate two, the last winner from that draw was ironically, Be Good Johnny back in 2005.
Amazingly, Luke McCarthy is taking his 9th drive in a Miracle Mile and is still chasing that maiden success, his best result came via his first drive in the race back in 2005 when second aboard Slipnslide behind his father John with Be Good Johnny.
Dual millionaire Lennytheshark, a runner-up in this race last year will have regular pilot Chris Alford behind and will start from gate five, the last winner from that draw was Have Faith In Me last year, the horse that nosed Lennytheshark in a desperately tight finish.
Hectorjayjay, a stablemate of Lennytheshark has been slammed with gate eight; the outside draw with young Josh Aiken booked to drive is hoping to create history by becoming the first horse to win a Miracle Mile from that draw.
Both Lennytheshark and Hectorjayjay are prepared by David Aiken and both were easy winners last weekend in their respective sprint qualifiers.
And Shane and Lauren Tritton are also duly represented with Salty Robyn starting from gate four with Chris Geary driving while Yayas Hot Spot will start from gate seven with Andy McCarthy booked.
The last winner from gate four was Christen Me back in 2014 while no horse has won from gate seven.
Will history be created this Saturday night?
Will a Grand Circuit champion be crowned?
Will a miracle take place?
The Gr.1 $750,000 Miracle Mile is race 7 and listed to start at 9.32pm local time.
