The feature event on the card at Menangle this evening sees one of the deepest Garrards Miracle Mile fields ever assembled come together for the 57th running of the race.
Our speed map, race overview and runner by runner preview are available down below.
The Map
Sunday afternoons barrier draw turned what was a great race into a simply extraordinary one.
Provided the emergency runner Bulletproof Boy does not get a run, one of the key chances in Swayzee was the loser of the draw having to start from barrier one. A horse that is not blessed with great natural gate speed that needs to race up on speed to do his best racing, he is likely to be crossed early by the favourite for the top, Tact Mcleod.
Driver of Don Hugo, Luke McCarthy, will be keen to stay in front of both Swayzee and Leap To Fame at the start of this race to take the front off Tact Mcleod, leaving Leap To Fame and Grant Dixon parked, with Swayzee trying to work his way into the event.
All while this is happening, the other four runners will be smoking their pipe with Captain Ravishing mapped to settle in the coveted one out one back position.
1. Bulletproof Boy (EMG 2)
Trainer Scott Ewen has done a marvellous job with this now ten-year-old son of Art Official, having him racing in career best form.
This gelding was a dual Cups winner in Victoria earlier in this preparation, winning the Bendigo and Ballarat cups respectively. A slight mishap ruled the fan favourite out of the Hunter Cup but he has had three runs since then, proving his soundness for tonight’s event.
Bulletproof Boy performed admirably at his most recent start in his heat behind Swayzee, poking through late to nab fourth. If he was to gain a start, he is drawn the right alley to run a drum.
2. Swayzee
A last-minute plan to attack the Miracle Mile could prove genius for trainer Jason Grimson and driver Cameron Hart if the horse they call ‘Lenny’ can get into the event.
The reigning New Zealand, Hunter and Victoria Cup champion put all concerns around his ability to run a big mile well and truly to bed when winning his heat seven days ago, clocking a 1:48.6 mile rate in the process.
The older half-brother of Leap To Fame, this now seven-year-old gelded son of Rock N Roll Heaven shares many attributes with his younger brother, including their tenacity to win, desire and grit; but also their lack of gate speed.
This lack of gate speed is the biggest problem for Swayzee from this draw as outlined in our speed map but he has the right man on board to overcome this problem.
3. Don Hugo
The current Eureka and Inter Dominion champion has furnished into the complete package as a five-year-old for trainer-driver Luke McCarthy and looks primed to add another feature race win to his illustrious record.
The more impressive heat winner from last week’s qualifiers, Don Hugo was forced to breeze throughout in a 1:48.8 mile, putting a gap between him and his rivals entering the home straight. The son of Art Major clung on to victory, holding off all challengers by half a neck.
The likely leader of this event provided McCarthy can stay between Tact Mcleod and Leap To Fame, Don Hugo will take a power of running down and gets his chance to prove he is as good as Leap To Fame and Swayzee.
4. Sooner The Bettor
The runner up from last years Miracle Mile gets his chance to go one better for the Barry Purdon-Scott Phelan combination.
Driven by Gavin Fitzpatrick in all his Australian runs, the ace reinsman weaved a delectable passage last week to flash home and finish third behind Don Hugo, showing a welcome return to form for this Bettors Delight five-year-old.
Mapped to enjoy an economical run in transit on the fence, this gelding will be suited to the hard run mile again this year and will be one of the strongest runners through the line.
5. Captain Ravishing
Some horses have a boom on them their whole life and do not deliver. This horse has had a boom on him his whole life and his delivered in fine fashion to this point but gets his best chance to secure a Grand Circuit victory in this race.
A newcomer to the Jason Grimson stable, this now six-year-old entire was the run of the week in the heats last week, rattling home to finish third in the race and meetings fastest final quarter. This was his first run for Grimson and came off the back of a fruitful Western Australian soiree.
A champion juvenile, this son of Captaintreacherous has raced well without winning at Menangle in the past which is a slight concern but he is primed to record his first win at the course with Jack Callaghan aboard, and what a race it would be to do it in!
6. Max Delight
He may not be the outright best horse we have ever seen, but Max Delight is undoubtedly one of the most durable we have ever seen.
A horse that has raced at the highest level his entire life, starting with a win in the NSW Derby as a three-year-old, the now nine-year-old is racing in arguably the best form of his life. The horse affectionately known as ‘Skip’ was a 1:48.8 winner three starts ago, backing up this run with a fantastic second run in the track-record breaking mile at Newcastle his next start.
Max Delight started favourite in the heat won by Don Hugo seven days ago, tiring late to finish fourth beaten only 5.6m with tonight’s driver Will Rixon aboard.
Although drawn awkwardly, this gelding has shown fantastic versatility in his racing pattern and is a good bet for the thrill seekers.
7. Tact Mcleod
Although not perhaps the best winning chance, this Mark Jones trained gelding is the most important horse in the race due to his blinding early speed.
A consistent performer in New Zealand, this Sweet Lou six-year-old has continued to improve in Australia, highlighted by a fourth placing in the Hunter Cup and a second placing behind Swayzee seven days ago.
With a man on board that knows how to win this race, it is likely Anthony Butt will shoot this gelding across at the start and take a trail on whichever of the big guns gets their first. From there, he will get every opportunity to stick his head out when it matters most.
8. Leap To Fame
Larry. The horse that has saved harness racing. Is he the best we have ever seen? Probably. Is he going to be winning this race? Also probably.
Grant Dixon and his father William spent over sixty years waiting for one as good as Leap To Fame and I would be willing to suggest it was worth it given Leap To Fame at six years old can boast wins in a host of juvenile races, a Blacks A Fake, a Miracle Mile, an Inter Dominion and a Hunter Cup amongst a sea of other feature races. The best bit is, his last start victory in the Newcastle Mile was almost the best of all of them!
Although drawn out, Dixon will likely follow Tact Mcleod across at the start and if he gets to the top (which I do not think he will) he will not be beaten. If he ends up parked, he is vulnerable, but it almost feels wrong of me to say that…
9. Catch A Wave
A horse that seems to save his best racing for Menangle, Catch A Wave enters this race peaking at the right time.
The winner of this race two years ago, Catch A Wave had perhaps been racing a tad underwhelmingly since his victory in the Nullabor at Gloucester Park last year but showed he is on the right track with his slashing second behind Don Hugo last week. This run came off the back of a strong Ballarat trial win and a super Terang performance.
With regular driver Kate Gath aboard for husband Andy, Catch A Wave will likely get back in the run and could be the best of the swoopers.
10. Sure Thing Captain
Although a fantastic bet in the old ‘Bohemia Crystal’ on the undercard, trainer Shannon Price would be inclined to take a run with this gelding in this race if he was to get the chance.
A horse blessed with enormous ability and potential, Sure Thing Captain turned in a fantastic performance in behind Leap To Fame at Newcastle. The five-year-old has started to show fantastic versatility in his racing and would be suited to the fast tempo of this race if he gets a run.
With gun Queensland based Kiwi expat Adam Sanderson aboard, there are far worse bets out there than this guy a place if he gains a start.
Race Overview
It almost feels immoral to tip against champions like Leap To Fame and Swayzee but the map and preparation of Captain Ravishing indicate he is the smart bet in this race on an each-way line. Afterall, he did start favourite in this race two years ago behind Catch A Wave but he appears to have improved since then. If the superstars bring each other unstuck, he stands out amongst the pack.
Outside of Captain Ravishing, Leap To Fame clearly picks himself and presents a rare opportunity to get north of $2 about him.
Don Hugo is the likely leader and has rarely let other horses run past him and has the right man on board to win this race.
Swayzee is an out and out champion but maps poorly for mine. Nonetheless, you cannot leave him out of your numbers.
Next best for mine is Catch A Wave.
- Selections: 5-8-2-1
- Suggested Bet: 5. Captain Ravishing (Each-Way)