Not content with just living out his dream, Scotty Ewen wants more.
The low-key Victorian trainer said qualifying his veteran giant-killer Bulletproof Boy for Saturday night’s $1 million Miracle Mile at Menangle is a dream come true.
Despite being a $61 outsider, Ewen said the 11-year-old and only Victorian-trained runner in the race can cause yet another upset.
“He’s good at that. He races best as an underdog, when nobody takes any notice of him,” he said.
The past five months have proven that with Bulletproof Boy scoring upset wins against Leap To Fame, Kingman and, most recently the brilliant Rakero Rocket, in last Saturday week’s Group 2 Newcastle Mile.
It was the latest win that realised Ewen’s dream with Newcastle carrying a golden ticket into the Miracle Mile.
“Ever since I’ve had this horse, and that’s a long time now, I thought the Miracle Mile would be the perfect Grand Circuit race for him,” Ewen said.
“He’s so fast, sprint racing really suits him and there’s no bigger sprint than the Miracle Mile.”
It’s a case of third time lucky trying to qualify for a Miracle Mile start.
“He won the Smoken Up Sprint (at Melton) in 2023 and was flying. I was set to take him up for the qualifying sprints (at Menangle) to try and get into the Miracle Mile, but would you believe they didn’t even give him a start in either of the qualifiers. That annoyed me. It wasn’t fair,” Ewen said.
“We did get a run in the sprints last year and he flew home from last to finish fourth. He went super, but it wasn’t quite enough to get him into the (Miracle Mile) field.
“He’s never gone better than he is now, despite his age, so we decided to give him one more go at it this year and look what he did at Newcastle.”
Bulletproof Boy stormed home from last for another upset win and ran closing times he’s never got close to before.
“His sectional times there were his best ever and that tells me he’ll run a great race this week despite his draw (he will start from barrier seven) and how strong the race is,” Ewen said.
Much of the humble Ewen’s confidence comes from driver James Herbertson.
“He’s been the key. They’ve just really clicked. ‘Herbie’ is a freak,” he said.
Herbertson has driven Bulletproof Boy 18 times for eight wins, five seconds and a third. The gelding will be lining up for his 228th start on Saturday night.
“I don’t mind the wide draw. He’ll be out of the speed burn there and if Herbie produces another gem of a drive, which he does almost every time, I think we’ll be right in the finish,” Ewen said.
“It’s just the most amazing feeling to be part of it. I’m going to really soak up the week and the experience, but knowing I’ve got a horse who can surprise them all again if things go our way.”
