CAN he do it? KING OF SWING has made the Miracle Mile his own over the last two editions and will be attempting to do the unachievable to date and win three editions tomorrow evening.
It has been a whirlwind 24 months for the now seven-year-old stallion and his quest to rewrite history was enhanced on Monday evening when young Madi McCarthy selected him barrier one.
After opening at $1.50 with TAB post barrier draw, the King has drifted slightly to $1.65 but still dominates betting and is clearly the one to beat.
Can they beat him? Let’s have a look at each of the contenders.
1: KING OF SWING – Belinda & Luke McCarthy
Expected position in running: Leader
Predicted finishing position: 1st
Despite his dominance of the Grand Circuit over the last two years, many, including myself, have considered last week’s Allied Express Sprint success his greatest yet. Rating a personal best time of 1.47.9, he did a power of work early before facing the breeze throughout and holding off the swoopers late in the mannerism of a true champion.
Considering his biggest wins in the sport have come on a seven-day back up in the past, the week-to-week racing may even scarily bring him on even further, although maybe in the past he hasn’t gone quite as far down the well so close to a big race.
Barrier number one always looks sensational on paper; however, it was King’s undoing in the 2021 Blacks A Fake and Luke McCarthy will be doing everything he can to ensure there is no repeat.
It may well be the last time we get to see King Of Swing on a racetrack – here is hoping he makes it a memorable one.
2. SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS – Belinda McCarthy & Jack Callaghan
Expected position in running: Leader’s back
Predicted finishing position: 2nd
The grueling test of an Inter Dominion can make or break a horse, but for this rising star, the series has assisted him to reach an entire new level this season.
Sweeping the Bendigo, Ballarat and Shepparton Cups through January, he then ran an excellent second in the Del-Re A. G. Hunter Cup behind King Of Swing.
Last week, he took things to a new level when breaking his Menangle maiden in the Schweppes Sprint when recording an electric 1.48.2 to win in almost arrogant fashion.
His racing pattern is tailor-made for high pressure racing, where he generally doesn’t get involved in any early speed burns, but still has the tactical speed to ensure he is close enough to strike late.
Drawing gate two looks ideal and Jack Callaghan will be looking to follow King Of Swing every step of the way – he will just be hoping that another rival enforces some sort of pressure to not have a repeat of Hunter Cup night.
3. MAJESTIC CRUISER – Jason Grimson & Cameron Hart
Expected position in running: Three back on the fence
Predicted finishing position: 4th
Another of the snipers, Majestic Cruiser looks to have an ideal draw for his chances also.
Qualifying for his first Miracle Mile with a strong second behind Spirit Of St Louis last week, it was a solid improvement on a somewhat disappointing Newcastle Mile performance.
His Menangle record is exemplary, only missing the top two three times in 11 attempts and proving to be competitive in a range of elite contests. In this race he has drawn far better and looks to gain a perfect trip for his desired pattern.
Don’t write him off if the contest doesn’t go to script for King Of Swing, and Cam Hart has options in his first Miracle Mile steer.
4. BUNDORAN – Amanda Turnbull (trainer/driver)
Expected position in running: One out three back
He came up narrowly short of causing a major upset last week when coming with a barnstorming finish to go within a head margin of King Of Swing – so much so that Luke McCarthy didn’t believe he had indeed won the race.
Amanda Turnbull will be hoping that her star pacer can go one better on the biggest stage and spoil the party just seven days later.
It has been a remarkable 12 months for this former Kiwi, who has seen him compete in several features, including the Inter Dominion Grand Final after winning a heat.
His pattern is quite similar to many others – get back and run on.
Last week was proof that he is more than capable of mixing it with the best and, vitally, he should be closer to the King this time around.
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5. MACH DAN – Emma Stewart & Nathan Jack
Expected position in running: One out two back
Could Mach Dan be the horse to make this 2022 Miracle Mile?
He caused the upset of the Newcastle Mile when dominating from the front, however, things step up a few levels in this $1 million contest.
Thwarted by bad barriers throughout the Inter Dominion series, he still ran some great races and backed that up with a superb fourth in the Hunter Cup first up.
It wasn’t a complete surprise that he was able to succeed in the first of the qualifiers, although maybe his position in running was.
Showing great speed off the arm without really being asked, he was able to comfortably hold one of the quickest horses in the land, Boncel Benjamin, to then rate a steady middle pace.
Does Nathan Jack once again try his luck for a peg line position, or is it too big of a risk should the plan not come to fruition?
It is a Miracle Mile and very few get a chance to roll the dice – let’s hope Mach Dan does!
6. EXPENSIVE EGO – Belinda McCarthy & Chris Geary
Expected position in running: One out, one back
While not in the same apparent form as this time 12 months ago, we have seen time and time again the talent and danger of Expensive Ego at his brilliant best.
After going through the Inter Dominion nigh on unbeatable, his bounce back hasn’t been as successful as his stablemates.
Venturing to Victoria, a slightly disappointing Ballarat Cup saw the pin pulled on that campaign with his entire focus turned to this carnival.
Newcastle was a head scratcher, but the tempo of the race was never going to suit any horse off the fence, and Ego is a Menangle monster.
Last week there were positive signs, with the five-year-old power driven to the top in a frenetically run opening half before tiring late.
Another other horse would be heralded for such a performance, but the expectations on this star are so high that some queries still surround his form and therefore it is hard to see him repeating last year’s runner-up finish.
One thing that we know is he is a front of the field horse and does his best work up on pace, but does he get there before Bondi Lockdown?
7. JAY OK (EMG 1) – Paul Fitzpatrick & Gavin Fitzpatrick
8. LIKE A WILDFIRE (EMG 2) Emma Stewart & Nathan Jack
9. BONDI LOCKDOWN – Aaron Dunn (trainer/driver)
Expected position in running: Outside leader
Predicted finishing position: 3rd
Many are still shaking their heads in disbelief over this star four-year-old’s Chariots Of Fire runner up performance.
Maybe I was a doubter – looking at the race I wasn’t sure how Bondi Lockdown would get into the contest – but get into the contest he did, and in remarkable fashion considering the tempo set.
He was a sitting duck at the top of the straight and was eventually collared late by the ever-improving Better Eclipse, but remarkably the Aaron Dunn trainee seemingly fought again 50 metres from home to go down by a length margin.
Seeing is believing, and in Menangle’s relatively short history that was one of the largest performances I have seen – no matter the result.
I declared immediately after that Bondi Lockdown could win the Miracle Mile and judging by that performance you would be silly to renege on the statement, however, things got mightily harder post barrier draw.
It’s one scenario to draw outside King Of Swing, but the stats say that drawing out in the Miracle Mile car park makes life incredibly difficult for any horse.
Many are calling this Victorian raider the heir to King’s throne, but he will have to be astronomical to take that mantle tomorrow evening. Expect him to push forward though, and he will be there to challenge.
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10. BETTER ECLIPSE – Jess Tubbs & Greg Sugars
Expected position in running: Four back on the fence
While the barrier draw gods haven’t shone as favourably as in the Chariots Of Fire for Better Eclipse, there is one simple fact that must be considered.
He is the fastest horse in this race – his 1.47.5 mile rate to win the four-year-old feature a fortnight ago stands him clear when it comes to times and in a speed test that is vital.
It has been a remarkable ascent after winning The Carousel only three short months ago and he is now in the richest race on the Australasian calendar.
Greg Sugars will drive to this horse’s strength and that is his speed, so don’t expect him to be involved early on, but he will be finishing hard as he has done on several occasions at the Menangle circuit.
Brittany Graham is a regular host on Sky Racing and the Sky Racing Active app, plus In The Gig with Ben Way and Gareth Hall every Tuesday night on Sky Racing 2 from 6pm.
The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.
