Aaron Dunn’s optimistic that Bondi Lockdown’s heroic second in Saturday’s Chariots Of Fire will book him a Miracle Mile place, but the stable still faces a nervous wait for official confirmation.
The reinsman has by-passed this Saturday night’s final qualifiers for the million-dollar mile, hopeful that his valiant second and 4YO Bonanza victory will be enough to land him in the select eight.
“I pretty much came off the track (Saturday night) and said that’s it, he’s not going around next week,” Dunn told SENTrack’s Trots Life today.
“They rang me Sunday to say don’t go home, but couldn’t really give a guarantee that he would be given a run till after the heats next week.”
Dunn said Bondi Lockdown “ate up good and drank well” in the wake of his enormous run, adding “maybe he’s a little bit tired” but “we will press on and keep going as normal and hope he comes through it”.
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Mach Dan and Better Eclipse have already booked their Miracle Mile places courtesy of Newcastle Mile and Chariots Of Fire wins and connections of both also joined SENTrack today.
Trainer Jess Tubbs said Better Eclipse’s win was a “very pleasant surprise and certainly a career highlight”.
“He does seem to enjoy the racing up here and he’s feeling good at the moment, so we’ll be crossing our fingers at the (Miracle Mile) barrier draw and hoping there’s some luck there for starters,” Tubbs said.
“As much as it’s a big ask for him, he can obviously run the time when the race is run to suit for him. If it panned out again, dare to dream I guess.”
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A rapt owner Danny Zavitsanos also joined Nikkita Ross and Luke Humphreys to celebrate Mach Dan’s victory in the Newcastle Mile for trainer Emma Stewart and Nathan Jack.
The Victorian pacer’s bold front-running display saw him upstage a quality field and fulfill a long held ambition for Zavitsanos.
“We were over the moon,” he said. “I was home with my wife (Jo) and the kids and we were watching it and the house nearly fell down. Ecstatic, ecstatic. I’ve been trying to get a horse in the Miracle Mile for the last four, five years. I’m really grateful.”
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