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AFTER an electric start to the Carnival Of Miracles this weekend’s action has plenty to live up to and, on paper, it looks certain to just that with four high quality Group 1s amid a bumper 10-race card.
Previously known as the Ladyship Mile, the Queen Elizabeth II Mile has drawn another quality line up of top-class pacing mares including defending champion STYLISH MEMPHIS.
She has returned in the same dazzling fashion that she showed last year, in fact, maybe she is even better again, having treated her Sibelia Stakes rivals with contempt a fortnight ago.
After being drawn as the inside runner on Monday she opened as the odds-on TAB favourite, but is the inside gate a blessing or a curse?
She has never been a noted gate speed horse, however, she is a high-speed mare, so there is no reason that she won’t be able to accelerate off the mobile when asked.
With noted flyers WAINUI CREEK, FAIRY TINKABELL and SPELLBOUND engaged, there looks a high likelihood of early speed to potentially place the favourite outside of her comfort zone.
I am sticking solid with Stylish Memphis and believe her class will see her through those early concerns.
Are you team MADRID or AMORE VITA? Or is there a filly that we are missing ahead of the $200,000 New South Wales Oaks?
Both fillies were ultra-impressive in their respective heat victories, with Madrid clocking the quicker time and drawing to advantage in gate four this weekend. Amore Vita recorded a scintillating 26sec closing quarter after her first attempt over 2400m and in her first look at Menangle, which she will no doubt have benefited from.
In behind the two top seeds there were several eye catchers including runners-up STENO and GOLDIES A DELIGHT, who both sprouted wings late in sharp closing sectionals.
Both fillies opened as even money TAB favourites, however the Nathan Purdon trained Kiwi-bred filly Amore Vita has held the most support since.
I am siding with her as well, although know that it won’t be easy to come from behind the local star. Hopefully the versatility she has shown and her high speed will see her through.
With only first and second placings guaranteed Miracle Mile berths a week later, the Schweppes and Allied Express Sprints are set to be hotly contested affairs.
The Schweppes appears the most open of the two with seemingly several winning chances.
The Victorian Country Cups king SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS has been heavily backed after his sensational second to his glamour stablemate in the Hunter Cup three weeks ago. With a likely one-one sit on EXPENSIVE EGO, he appears to get his best chance to break his Menangle maiden.
The big query is Expensive Ego and his current form, which he could easily put to rest should he turn up at his brilliant best.
MALCOMS RHYTHM loves the wide-open spaces of Menangle, which he proved by winning an Inter Dominion heat only a few months ago and more recently breaking the clock last Saturday to top off his preparation.
Throw in the flying TRIPLE EIGHT, the progressive LIKE A WILDFIRE and the chances don’t end there.
The King of Menangle, and the Miracle Mile, will look to top off his attempt at a threepeat of the country’s richest race with another Sprint victory.
KING OF SWING, the $2.7 million earner, was dominant in his second Hunter Cup victory three weeks ago and has drawn seemingly perfectly in barrier two.
While his $1.35 price suggests he is close enough to first past the post I am not sure that is completely factful.
The all or nothing nature of these qualifiers means there are nine other horses who can’t afford to rest on their laurels and will be doing their best to roll the dice and dethrone ‘the King’.
MAX DELIGHT and the Inter Dominon winner BOUNCEL BENJAMIN look the most likely to cause the champ some early concerns, while CRUZ BROMAC has returned to winning form at his last two starts and an avalanche of market support has seen him tumble from $15 to $6.50 on TAB fixed.
After the winner and runner up take their positions in the Miracle Mile, two invitations will remain for the Club Menangle Directors to determine on Saturday evening.
BONDI LOCKDOWN continues to wait in the wings, while the Queen Elizabeth II victor will also raise her hoof for consideration.
The barrier draw for this year’s Miracle Mile will be conducted on Monday evening alongside the Harness Racing NSW awards evening.
BEST of the weekend: Menangle, Saturday, R6 N1 Stylish Memphis
VALUE of the weekend: Menangle, Saturday, R4 N2 Like A Wildfire
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.
