A simply sublime night is ahead for fans of harness racing with Menangle hosting New South Wales’ night of nights with the running of the 57th Garrards Horse & Hound Miracle Mile.
A full breakdown of the feature event (R7) is available on the Ladbrokes Blog here, while our race-by-race preview, with speed maps attached, is down below.
A full glossary to break down some key terminology used for those new to harness racing is also available at the bottom of this article.
Race One: Access Group Solutions Stakes (1609m)
A most intriguing event for the up to NR90 pacers kicks off the night with form lines from the Chariots of Fire series most prevalent.
We are going to side with DASHING (2), with harness racing’s most popular man, Luke McCarthy, doing both the driving and training honours.
This gelding has been phenomenal at both his starts for his new trainer, savaging the line from an impossible position first up prior to doing a power of work to be narrowly defeated in a 1:50:0 mile rate last start. He maps to enjoy a comfortable trip in transit and looks a winning chance.
The hardest to beat is Kiwi gelding BETTER KNUCKLE UP (6). This four-year-old has been luckless in both his runs this side of the Tasman, hitting the line well in big miles on both occasions. Driven by Gavin Fitzpatrick, expect this horse to be storming home late once more.
OUR LUCIANO (1) has been faultless since joining James Rattrays Exeter base, winning the Group Two Paleface Adios Stakes two weeks ago and finishing an eye catching fourth in the Chariots last week.
COMPETE (5) is the likely leader and was a fantastic on pace winner last start. He rounds out of top four.
DOUBLE FEAR (7) and ROCKANDANCE (4) are next best.
- Selections: 2-6-1-5
- Suggested Bet: 2. Dashing (Win) & 6. Better Knuckle Up (Each-Way)
Race Two: Ultra Air J L Raith Memorial (Group 3-1609m)
The three-year-old pacing fillies take centre stage here with the reigning NSW Breeders Challenge winner SUGAR PIE HONEY (3) coming out on top.
Trained by Rickie Alchin, this Sweet Lou filly made significant improvement in her last preparation which was highlighted by her stunning victory in the two-year-old Breeders Challenge final, beating some of tonight’s key rivals in the process. Like many of her rivals, she enters tonight first-up but has had the benefit of two eye-catching trials to prepare her for this assignment.
Grant Dixon truly does have a stable full of stars at the moment, with COOL AND CLASSY (5) one of those who is doing her name justice on the track. A winner of seven of her eight starts, this Group One winner could have done nothing more to impress throughout her career thus far and looks a great chance of maintaining her stunning record.
Prepared to chance my arm and give Dean & Kerry McDowells new acquisition SMIRKIN SERENE (11) a push here at massive odds. This filly has won two of her three career starts and has shown great versatility in her racing. She has race fitness on her side which holds her in good stead.
GUNNA RELOAD (9) was fantastic last preparation and looks set for another fruitions campaign.
SOHO AMERICAN (4), MISS RAVISHING (1) and OUR SPECIAL MEMORY (6) all demand respect.
- Selections: 3-5-11-9
- Suggested Bet: 3. Sugar Pie Honey (Win) & 11. Smirkin Serene (Each-Way)
Race Three: Bubba Gump Pest Control FFA (2300m)
In what is perhaps the consolation to the consolation of the Miracle Mile, we land with interstate pacer THE JANITOR (4).
This Chantal Turpin trained four-year-old faces his stiffest test to date but is trending in the right direction. A son of Always B Miki, this gelding had put forward two breathtaking performances at both of his Menangle appearances, breezing throughout to win in a sub-1:50 mile first up before savaging the line late to record the race and meetings fastest closing sectionals last start. Mapped to find the top here, expect Cam Hart to be hitting the winners stall early in the evening.
KINGMAKER (6) was excellent here seven days ago, breaking through for a much-deserved win since rejoining the McCarthy yard. This gelding had been racing extremely well without winning in tough company prior to last start and had to burn at both ends to record his victory last week. Mapped to enjoy an economical trip in transit, expect this gelding to be in the heat of the finish late.
Paul Fitzpatrick’s SOUTH COAST ARDEN is set to peak here tonight, having his third run back since a brief let up. He is suited by the longer trip and has the right man on board to keep him motivated when he hits his usual flat spot in Gavin Fitzpatrick.
CURLY JAMES (1) is drawn the pole but does map a little awkwardly given the amount of gate speed to his outside but with even luck he will be thereabouts late.
Other to consider on a place line include gate speed factor ARDENS ACE (10) and the airborne CYA ART (3).
- Selections: 4-6-2-1
- Suggested Bet: 4. The Janitor (Win)
Race Four: Slingsby Holdings NSW Derby (Group 1-2400m)
In what many analysts, trainers and punters alike are calling the strongest Derby field ever assembled, it is the favourite of the six Emma Stewart trained runners, ALWAYS HOT (10) coming out on top.
An undefeated pacer with seven wins from as many starts, this colt has taken on all comers to win in simply sublime fashion throughout his career so far. He qualified for this race when winning the Simpson Memorial by a dominant 11m here at Menangle exactly four weeks ago, completing his lead up with a casual win over the older pacers at Melton seven days ago. With Greg ‘The Candyman’ Sugars steering, expect this Always B Miki colt to work his way to the front at some point of this likely Indian-file race. From there, he will carry on with his winning ways.
ALWAYS HOT is our Best of The Day.
Grant Dixon looks to have the best chance of causing a boil over with well supported colt FATE AWAITS (2) being a winner from Monday mornings barrier draw. This colt breezed throughout in the slowest of the three heats seven days ago but did find the line in good order. Expect him to peak third-up this evening.
THE HIGHLIGHT REEL (8) is a stablemate of ALWAYS HOT and was a fantastic winner of his heat last week. Driven by Mark Pitt, this colt recorded a significantly faster miler rate than the other two heats, winning by 3.6m with a massive gap back to third.
MAC BON (1) was the second placegetter behind THE HIGHLIGHT REEL last week and maps to enjoy a comfortable trip throughout.
Do not dismiss the likes of SILVER PISTOL (3) or GO MIKI (4) either.
- Selections: 10-2-8-1
- Suggested Bet: 10. Always Hot (Win)
Race Five: Yabby Dam Farms Hammerhead Trotters Mile (Group 1-1609m)
The trotters get their chance to shine in this Group One event with the new star of the Australian trotting ranks THE LOCOMOTIVE (9) looking mightily hard to beat.
Trained and driven by Goulburn horseman Brad Hewitt, this entire has blossomed into a star with the retirement of Just Believe, best shown by his stunning clean sweep victory of the recent Inter Dominion series here in NSW. This horse was then taken to Victoria to contest the Great Southern Star series, breaking the track record at Melton in his heat before finishing second in the final later the same evening. Suited back to Menangle, Hewitt has topped this entire of nicely with a strong trial win ten days ago.
If he finds the front, THE LOCOMOTIVE will be winning. He is our Next Best of The Day.
Champion Kiwi trotter OSCAR BONAVENA (1) is undoubtedly this hardest to beat. Trained by Hall-Of-Fame couple Natalie and Mark Purdon, this entire made his Menangle debut a fortnight ago, scoring a stylish win in a 1:53.5 mile with tonight’s driver Greg Sugars aboard. The biggest knock on this runner is the draw as he will likely be shuffled back at the start and need to get away from the marker pegs at some point.
KEYANG CHUCKY (5) has continued his stellar run of form of late, winning three of his last five starts, including his last two. The most recent of these wins saw the Lee trained gelding roar away to an impressive 10.7m win in the Australian Trotting Championship at Melton. The biggest downside for this trotter is that he is yet to beat THE LOCOMOTIVE from three attempts.
Injury maligned trotter DOFF YOUR CAP (2) makes his racetrack return in this event for new trainer Jason Grimson and looks set to feature. A horse with undisputable talent, this gelding has had three strong trials to prepare him for tonight’s assessment but nonetheless he has not raced for the better part of fifteen months. Keep a close eye on the market late.
ARCEE PHOENIX (8), LONDON TO A BRICK (3) and WATTS UP PARTYTIME (10) all demand respect on the place line.
- Selections: 9-1-5-2
- Suggested Bet: 9. The Locomotive (Win)
Race Six: Ainsworth Australian Light Horse FFA (Group 2-2300m)
The consolation to the Miracle Mile sees a star-studded field of pacers line up, with not a single runner that would have been out of place in the feature. We are going to show our faith in another Sunshine State pacer, this time with SURE THING CAPTAIN (1).
Trained by astute horsewoman Shannon Price, this gelding started near enough to favourite in The Eureka last year; having only had one run since. This run came at Newcastle in the track-record breaking Newcastle Mile won by Leap To Fame, going down by only 7.2m. The Captaintreacherous gelding showed the best gate speed he ever has on this occasion and if he can do the same thing to lead here, he will be the hardest to beat for driver Adam Sanderson.
We are going to through in another Captaintreacherous gelding for second in CAPTAIN HAMMERHEAD (10). Trained and driven by David Moran, this now five-year-old has come on in leaps and bounds this preparation, being first past the post in a most controversial Shepparton Cup first-up and lowering the colours of Swayzee third-up at Albury. This gelding put forward his best Menangle run to date seven days ago in the first of the sprint qualifiers, weaving through late to run fifth. Expect him to be thereabouts in the finish once more.
CAPTAINS KNOCK (6) rounds out a Captaintreacherous trifecta for us, albeit he was fraction disappointing in behind Don Hugo last week. This five-year-old had been deserving of nothing but superlatives in all his runs prior and is absolutely deserved of a forgive performance.
Favourite runner DONT STOP DREAMING (2) finished down the track in the same heat as CAPTAIN HAMMERHEAD last week after suffering an ugly trip in transit from a kind draw. Mapped to sit behind leader this week, expect vast improvement from the Purdon prepared entire.
Every single runner in this event warrants respect with NYACK (9) and DANGEROUS (11) standing out as the next best.
- Selections: 1-10-6-2
- Suggested Bet: 1. Sure Thing Captain (Win) & 10. Captain Hammerhead (Each-Way)
Race 7: Garrards Miracle Mile (Grand Circuit Event-Group 1-1609m)
You can check out our runner by runner Miracle Mile guide right here.
Race 8: Multiquip Aggregate Sapling Stakes (Group 3-1609m)
As the regular followers of the Ladbrokes harness racing blog are aware, the juvenile pacers are something of a speciality for yours truly, with this race giving us the opportunity to shine in the first classic of the two-year-old season, hoping SHOWMETHETANLINES (5) can do us justice.
A member of the astute Adam Kelly barn, this former Kiwi made his debut across the ditch, scoring an effortless, remarkable victory at Addington. This run impressed his new connections enough to buy this Downbytheseaside colt and bring him to Australia where he has had turned in one utterly phenomenal trial performance. A winner by over fifty metres in his trial, this colt clocked four outstanding quarters in the process. Expect Kate Gath to either assert her superiority at the start and put his bloke on the burner early or settle in the running line and storm over the top of runners late.
The hardest to beat for ours is PURE GRUNT (9), a last start Albion Park winner. Trained by leading juvenile trainer Darrell Standen, this colt was brilliant on debut at Newcastle behind FAKE FRIENDS (3) prior to sealing off in a 27.4 quarter at Albion Park when leading throughout. Expect this son of Vincent to be fanning wide in the run home and to be one of the strongest late.
SOHO MAJESTIC (2) was fantastic on debut here at Menangle, spotting the leader a seemingly impossible margin at the top of the straight, knuckling down to reign LOCHIVAR LEADER (8) in over the concluding stages. Luke McCarthy drove him on that occasion and sticks with the colt again here.
Both FRIZZA (7) and NOTHING FINER (6) were outstanding debut winners, with the former having had a trial between runs, giving him the nudge into fourth for us.
Pay great respect to emergency A BUCK TEN (12) if he manages to gain a start, he could have the most ability of any horse in this, but his racing manners are still a concern.
- Selections: 5-9-2-7
- Suggested Bet: 5. Showmethetanlines (Win)
Race Nine: Condell Park Produce Baby Bling Stakes (1609m)
The ‘get out stakes’ sees the open class mare line up in a most fascinating affair, with PANDAIA (4) coming out on top.
Trained by Rickie Alchin and driven by Ashleigh Delosa, this mare was a simply stunning winner two weeks ago over the mile here at Menangle, clocking a 1:50.2 mile. The Downbytheseaside mare took all honours on that occasion, adding a new string to her bow by leading throughout. At her start prior, the mare finished a luckless fifth behind EYE KEEP SMILING (8) after handing to ILLAVABUBBLES (1) at the first quarter peg. Looking to make amends and stamp herself as a contender in the upcoming mare carnival, we can expect Delosa to hold the top here and take a power of running down.
PANDAIA is our Best Value Bet.
EYE KEEP SMILING is the hardest to beat, with her win two starts ago against pretty well all of her rivals tonight speaking for itself. The Luke McCarthy trained mare breezed throughout on that occasion, clocking a sub 1:50 mile in the process. Her most recent start saw her finish seventh when taking on the open class boys behind Swayzee seven days ago, performing admirably.
ILLAVABUBBLES is a track specialist who is racing well with young gun Jett Turnbull aboard. Drawn perfectly in barrier one, expect the Grimson trained mare to settle handy in the run and be thereabouts at the end.
TAY TAY (9) has been a fantastic mare for connections and has placed at three of her past five starts. While she finds it hard to win these days, trainer Jason Grimson will have her in fine order and she is a must for exotic players.
WORKS FOR ME (2) is in form and progressive, she must be considered. IM PRESI BELLE (3) and MARIA ALLEGONDA (6) are both wider exotic contenders.
- Selections: 4-8-1-9
- Suggested Bet: 4. Pandaia (Win)
Best Bets
- Best Bet: R4-10. Always Hot
- Next Best: R5-9. The Locomotive
- Best Value: R9-4. Pandaia
- Best Roughie: R7-5. Captain Ravishing
Glossary:
Pace: One of the two gaits of harness racing. This gait involves horses moving their front and rear legs in a unified lateral motion and sees most pacers wear hopples (leather straps that connect their front and rear legs).
Trotter: The second gait of harness racing. This gait sees horses move their legs forward in diagonal pairs and does not require hopples.
Gait-Break/Galloping: When a horse breaks into a gallop at any stage of the race, meaning the horse must be restrained back to its desired gait.
NR: National-Ratings, the current handicapping system used throughout Australia. Functions in a similar manner to the popular ‘Benchmark’ system used in thoroughbred racing.
Mile Rate: The universal metric used to measure race times in harness racing worldwide.
FFA: An acronym for Free-For-All, the term used to describe open-class eligible races.
Breezing/Death Seat: Slang terms used to describe the position outside the leader in running.
The Pole: The inside starting barrier.
Derby: A race for male three-year-old horses.
Indian-File: A style of race where there is no running line and all runners are against the marker pegs.
First-Over: The term used to describe the first horse to move away from the marker pegs in an Indian-File event.
Grand Circuit Event: The most coveted events on the harness racing calendar, akin to ‘The majors’ in thoroughbred racing.
Quarter: A 400m sectional from the mile rate. Typically the first and last are the fastest.
Sealing Off: The final portion of a horses run, akin to expressions like ‘hitting the line’.