Saturday night’s Miracle Mile carried just about as much anticipation as you could possibly hope for.
And the race delivered in spades with My Field Marshal roaring home to nail his rivals right on the line in the quickest ever Southern Hemisphere Mile Rate – 1:46.9.
Bettering the previous mark by over half a second, it was a plan that worked to perfection for legendary trainer Tim Butt.
Deciding to bypass the Inter Dominion and Hunter Cup, My Field Marshal was set for one race over summer and that plan came to fruition in a stunning contest.
The talk pre-race was about the champion, Lazarus, and how tough a task he would have from the outside draw.
That proved correct as he was never in the hunt; a performance which hardly sullies his record-breaking season.
But it was left to the rising stars of the sports to battle out the gruelling contest over a true mile.
Soho Tribeca ran another monster race when parking and holding on until the last 50 metres while the four-year-old Jilliby Kung Fu sent an ominous warning for the next few seasons with a slashing second.
It was a well-timed run from the ex-Kiwi that won the day however, as the trio went to the line locked together.
“After he won the Len Smith Mile we got an idea of just how much he loves the track and what he is capable of doing here,” trainer Tim Butt said.
“We decided to forego some of the other big races to focus on the Miracle Mile and it’s just such an honour to win a race that’s not just hard to win, it’s hard to even get a runner into the race.”
The win was made even more special for the fact it was Butt’s first big race success since moving to Sydney.
Citing a changing client base and change of lifestyle as the major contributors for the move from the Shaky Isles, there was obvious emotion in the aftermath of the win.
It was the way the son of Art Major was able to win in the end that was as impressive as anything else.
“He almost outstayed them in the end; it wasn’t just his sprint which won the day,” Butt said.
“He’s just a lovely horse, he had to have a wind operation as a three-year-old and that’s led to a few lung infections but he is just getting better.”
And for fans of the horse, he’s likely to continue on now. The Miracle Mile was just his fourth run in so Butt plans to find a few more races for him this preparation.
IN the other Miracle Mile night feature races the Victorians played a strong hand claiming almost all of the Group 1s.
Maori Time smashed the Australasian trotting record when stopping the clock in 1:51.5 in the elite level squaregaiting race.
Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin has a memorable evening as they trained the trifecta in the NSW Derby with Poster Boy holding off Tam Major and Major Times.
The pair also claimed Group 1 success with recent stable recruit Carlas Pixel showing a dazzling turn of foot in the Ladyship Mile.
In the NSW Oaks Mark Pitt trained and drove Shez All Rock to success in what was her fourth win from just five starts.
The other open class Group 1 on the night went to Franco Nelson for New South Wales as he managed to keep San Carlo at bay late.
Heroes
ANTHONY BUTT
Arguably Australasia’s greatest ever big race driver, Ants was able to drive the perfect race to haul in his rivals in the fastest ever mile recorded in the Southern Hemisphere.
EMMA STEWART
Achieved a rare feat in training the trifecta of a Group 1 race being the NSW Derby. Poster Boy wasn’t the only highlight though with Carlas Pixel rushing home to claim the Ladyship Mile.
BRENT LILLEY
With the help of Todd McCarthy, turned Maori Time around to trot all the way and smash all trotting records with a blistering mile in the Group 1 trot on Saturday night.
CRAIG HOBAN
Drove his debutante filly a treat to win the feature two-year-old at Melton Friday night. Tangoingwithsierra is another from the family to have had early success.
Horses to Follow
PHOENIX PRINCE
Almost threw it away when resuming at Geelong on Saturday night but cruised home in the end. Follow him wherever he goes.
DANSBRO
Visually you won’t find a more impressive victory in the past week. He’s still lightly raced but expect him to keep winning.
MISS INTENSE
This girl continues to improve and based on her run in a Breed For Speed Silver Series heat, she’ll be in the final up to her ears.
Coming Up
GLOUCESTER PARK – FRIDAY
- $100,000 Sales Classic Final – Fillies
- $100,000 Sales Classic Final – Colts and Geldings
MENANGLE – SATURDAY
- $30,600 Pink Bonnet 2YO Fillies (Group 3)
CRANBOURNE – SATURDAY
- $50,000 Cranbourne Cup (Group 3)
- $50,000 The Knight Pistol (Group 1)
