McCarthy trio are Miracle Mile bound

Champion harness racing driver Luke McCarthy thinks the Miracle Mile winner will race at Menangle on Saturday night.

And he should know, having won the past three Miracle Miles with the now retired superstar King Of Swing (Rocknroll Hanover).

McCarthy’s assessment means he is overlooking brilliant four-year-olds Captain Ravishing (Captaintreacherous) and Catch A Wave (Captaintreacherous), who fought-out last Saturday night’s epic Chariots Of Fire.

The young glamour pair have this week off and will head straight into the $1 million Miracle Mile on March 4.

McCarthy’s view is based on the fact his talented four-year-old Cantfindabettorman smashed the clock from late and out wide to finish a late-closing third to Catch A Wave and Captain Ravishing in the Chariots Of Fire.

“If he parked just behind the big guns in the Chariots, I think he’d have gone very close to beating them given how big he went,” he said.

“And, while he’s a nice horse and improving, we didn’t even nominate him for the sprints this week because we don’t think he’s up to beating our big three open-class horses who are in the (qualifying) sprints.

“Don’t get me wrong, I think Catch A Wave and Captain Ravishing are terrific horses, but it’s a big step-up from racing your own age to beating the seasoned, open-aged horses in a race like the Miracle Mile.”

The last Chariots Of Fire winner to win the Miracle Mile in the same year was Have Faith In Me in 2016, but the past five Chariots winners have backed-up two weeks later and been placed in the Miracle Mile.

McCarthy and his wife, Belinda, have three of the major players across the two Miracle Mile qualifying sprints – the Schweppes Sprint (race four) and Allied Express Sprint (race five) – on Saturday night at Menangle.

The biggest focus will be on recent stable addition Bondi Lockdown, who is a $2.20 favourite from barrier one ahead of stablemate Spirit Of St Louis (gate three, $3.10) in the Schweppes Sprint.

Former Chariots Of Fire winner and Miracle Mile runner-up Expensive Ego is the stable’s only runner in the Allied Express Sprint and is $4.20 third favourite behind recent Hunter Cup winner Honolua Bay.

“I know everyone is saying Bondi Lockdown is our best hope, but I want to see how he goes this week before I agree. He’s done everything right in two runs for us, but he’ll have to go much quicker this week and you never know until they come out and do it,” McCarthy said.

“His two runs haven’t been better and some things about him say he’s a bit special, but there is still a bit of wait and see for us this week.

“He’s drawn well and he’s ready to be used early. He’s quick out, he almost crossed King Of Swing in last year’s Miracle Mile when Dunny (Aaron Dunn) had him.”

McCarthy said Spirit Of St Louis had really impressed since returning home from a sixth placing in the Hunter Cup after an early speed burn on February 4.

“Don’t write him off, I’m telling you. We’re thrilled with him. He came off a good run in the Hunter Cup last year to run second to ‘King’ (King Of Swing) in last year’s Miracle Mile. He seems just as well now,” he said.

And what about Expensive Ego, who has only won once from 10 Victorian runs, but returns to the big Menangle track where he’s only finished worse than second four times in 24 starts, which include 15 wins.

“He just loves the place and he’s shown he can do amazing things here,” McCarthy said. “He’s likely to come out and go 1min48sec and really give them all something to beat this week.

“I know the focus is on Bondi Lockdown, but I think it’s actually pretty hard to split all out three. Hopefully they all run up to their best and get through the (Miracle) Mile.”

Just two of the eight Miracle Mile spots are locked-away to Mach Dan (Newcastle Mile) and Catch A Wave (Chariots Of Fire).

Captain Ravishing looks a lock if connections want to run, while the first two placegetters from both Saturday night’s qualifying sprints are also assured of a run.

The Miracle Mile field will be finalised about 10pm Saturday night and the barrier draw conducted on Sunday afternoon.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia