GLAMOUR and racing are as immutably inseparable as love and marriage. 

At their core, all three codes of racing survive and thrive on a brilliant brand of razzamatazz religion, a mystical mythology only known to those that serve at their altar. 

Often, this magical mystery tour transcends practical pragmatics. 

Sometimes to racing’s benefit. 

Occasionally to its detriment. 

Tonight, fearsome front-runner King Of Swing seems logically likely to rewrite history by winning his third Miracle Mile. 

For those that fail to comprehend the magnitude of this achievement – should it materialise – here is the list of two-time ‘Mile’ victors. 

Village Kid, Westburn Grant, Chokin, Holmes DG, Sokyola, Be Good Johnny and Smoken Up. 

Superstars all. 

Rationally speaking, the concept of usurping names of this magnitude should assure King Of Swing legend status in the modern era. 

Throw in his two Hunter Cup wins and a Blacks A Fake success as Messermeister steak knives (apparently, they’re very good steak knives) and this horse they call ‘The King’ completes a truly ravishing resume. 

The question remains, however, will he be remembered in the manner that he should? 

Without question, the standardbred media has often betrayed King Of Swing, and the person penning this piece has been the worst offender.’ 

Sure, his Grand Circuit successes have mostly materialised from advantageous alleys and front-end domination. 

But who cares? 

He may lack the brutality of Blacks A Fake, the brilliance of Im Themightyquinn or the stamina of Lazarus. 

In real world terms, none of this means much.

What matters is winning, in the biggest races, on the biggest stages, with the greatest prizes on offer. 

King Of Swing has done that, time and time again. 

Belinda McCarthy’s statuesque stallion hasn’t saluted yet of course. 

Among his potential assassins in tonight’s $1 million Miracle Mile are stablemate Spirit Of St Louis – drawn to silently stalk him in transit – and bottomless Victorian wrecking ball Bondi Lockdown. 

They too bring radical narratives to Australia’s richest pace. 

If, however, King Of Swing does as most expect, and leads southern hemisphere standardbred racing’s most savage speed test from pillar-to-post, let’s forget the glamour and the heroes of the past. 

Let’s instead enjoy the legend that we have right now. 

We probably won’t have him for long. 

TRAINING racing creatures is a fickle, flighty game. 

Even the greats, and there has been myriad, tend to have their eras and those eras don’t last long. 

This is what sets Andy Gath clear of many peers – longevity. 

Tonight, more than two decades after securing his first Victorian training premiership, Gath will showcase two more stars of alternating gait. 

In the Markovina Free-For-All he has Vintage Cheddar, and in the Trotters Free-For-All there’s Vacation Hill. 

Both should likely win, and Gath should keep on charging forward.