Spirit Of St Louis impressive in $100,000 Schweppes Sprint

And he showed he’d be a force in next week’s Garrards Miracle Mile with a super impressive harness racing win, rating 1:52.4 which was enough to take out tonight’s $100,000 Schweppes Sprint at Club Menangle with the Belinda McCarthy-trained Spirit Of St Louis (Sweet Lou).

Trainer Emma Stewart also earned her second Miracle Mile runner when Hurricane Harley darted through a late split to grab second spot, just a half-neck clear of Bondi Lockdown, who finished third.

“Once we got to the front we were able to back the speed off a bit and that made a lot of difference in the run home,” said Callaghan.

“I’m pretty excited we have qualified him for another Miracle Mile.

“He’s worked well all week and once this horse gets into the Retention Barn he knows he’s there to do a job . . . and it’s all business.

“He came here to put on a performance and he did that and he showed tonight just how good he is and what he can do.”

Of course Spirit Of St Louis was placed last year behind the mighty King Of Swing.

SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS REPLAY

Victorian trainer Stewart was also ecstatic with the effort of Hurricane Harley to grab a spot with stablemate Mach Dan in next weekend’s big Group 1 Sprint.

While Bondi Lockdown was a shade unlucky after being trapped three-back on the pegs – he certainly gave Club Menangle directors something to think about with a fast- finishing third.

The second MM qualifier, the Allied Express Sprint saw the speed on from the outset.

And no-one was cheering louder than Emma Stewart when Hunter Cup winner Honolua Bay (Somebeachsomewhere) came from the tail of the field to score an exciting 1:49.2 win to give her three runners already qualified for the big Sprint.

Expensive Ego raced without cover for most of the journey and fought on well to finish second, giving Belinda McCarthy her second runner in next week’s Group 1.

HONOLUA BAY REPLAY

Reinsman David Moran knew he was in the hunt turning for home as the leaders had gone so hard in front.

“He’s really in the zone at the moment, this horse,” said Moran.

“You have to keep at him when he gets going, but he gives you plenty.

“He only does what he has to do so he’s never a horse that is going to win by a big margin.

“There’s a lot of good speed horses in there now.

“We’ll just cross our fingers now that next week will be a truly-run race.”

For complete race results, click here.

From Club Menangle