The story of this Miracle Mile is more about what lies ahead rather than King Of Swing's win itself.

Yes it’s a mighty effort to become the seventh horse to win successive Miracle Miles, but, in retrospect, King Of Swing was a class above his rivals with Lochinvar Art sidelined. He won accordingly.

There were no sparks, there was no real contest. King Of Swing cruised to the front, driver Luke McCarthy dictated his own terms and really only dashed-up for the last 400m to cruise home. His 1min49.2sec mile was the equal slowest in the past six years and 1.2sec slower than he went to win 12 months earlier.

But the mission was accomplished and without taxing the horse in the process.

It’s been the most remarkable transformation story since King Of Swing – down on confidence and hating the small Gloucester Park track – was sent across from Perth to join the Cobbity Equine team. In 18 starts for them he won 14, been second three times and third once. He’s bankrolled almost $2 million that time.

But, not surprisingly, McCarthy and part-owner Mark Congerton both referred to the absence of the injured Lochinvar Art in the post-race interviews.

“With Lochinvar Art not here, he did look a notch above his rivals,” McCarthy said. “And there wasn’t a horse in the race who could really take it to him, like Lochinvar Art would have. It certainly made life a lot easier for us.

“We’re not afraid of Lochinvar Art, but we respect him. He’s a great horse. I don’t think we could sit outside him and beat him and I don’t think he could sit outside King and beat us.”

Congerton genuinely bemoaned Lochinvar Art’s absence.

“We’ll take the win and celebrate it, but we wanted Lochinvar Art in the race. We want to race him as often as possible. We want it and the sport needs rivalries like that,” he said.

“We hope he gets over his setback quickly and we can race him again soon, maybe in Queensland.”

That’s King Of Swing’s next main target, a defence of his Group 1 Blacks A Fake title at Albion Park in July.

Then it’s on to races like the Victoria Cup in October, Sydney Inter Dominion in November/December then Hunter Cup next February.

But burning away in the background for the next 12 months will be the chance to create history and become the first horse to three-peat in the Miracle Mile.

King Of Swing’s young stablemate Expensive Ego continued the excellent form of Chariots Of Fire winners in the Miracle Mile with a mighty run for second.

“He’ll have a short break now and then head to Queensland with King Of Swing. He’s been invited to their new race, the Rising Sun, which is for three and four-year-olds,” McCarthy said.

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What a rollercoaster ride the past three weeks has been for David Moran.

The stress and emotion of Lochinvar Art’s public and drawn-out battle with a hoof injury which eventually forced him out of the Miracle Mile was balanced somewhat by an unexpectedly big Miracle Mile night.

Moran’s “next big thing” Patsbeachstorm brilliantly won the Group 1 NSW Derby at just his eighth start.

“He could be really, really good. He’s got incredible high speed and if he can develop some toughness to go with it over time, then he could be special,” he said.

And a Miracle Mile itself which Moran expected to grit his teeth and watch from the grandstand, turned into something memorable as well.

Moran picked-up the drive on Chariots Of Fire winner Expensive Ego and drove a superb race to beat all bar King Of Swing.

“It was a fantastic run. I had to make a move and put him in the race after King Of Swing found the front and he just kept giving,” Moran said.

“It was such an unexpected thrill to get the call-up to drive him and the way he went there he’s going to be a serious Grand Circuit horse.”

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Surely we will see a lot more of star Kiwi trotter Majestic Man in Australia.

Phil Williamson’s stable star capped a hugely successful Aussie raid with an effortless win in the Group 1 NSW Trotter’ Mile at Menangle on Saturday night.

He raced seven times on the trip – all at Group 1 level – for three wins, three placings and a fourth.

He’s headed back home now for the upcoming Group 1 Rowe Cup in Auckland, but Williamson is sure to be reflecting on this Aussie raid and how well suited Majestic Man is to our style of racing.

Pleasingly, his big group of owners recently turned-down a big offer to sell him to North America.

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Menangle stole the limelight on Saturday night, but the win of Sparkling Success stirred plenty of emotions at Melton the same night.

About two-and-a-half years ago Sparkling Success stormed a hot patch, including winning the Group 1 Great Southern Star, and was Australia’s best trotter.

Just when connections were planning a daring North American trip, injury struck and threatened to end his career.

Sadly the now nine-year-old was cut down in his prime, but it’s a credit to trainer John Meade to see him return to winning form at his 13th start on the comeback trail.

* photos courtesy of Club Menangle.

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