New race concept “the best” since Miracle Mile

David Brick is entitled to take some time to himself this week to savour the huge success his brainchild, The Rising Sun, is even before it is run for the first time.

Simply, it’s the best “new” race harness racing has seen since the Miracle Mile was first run and won by Kiwi mare Robin Dundee way back in 1967.

It’s an inspired concept, especially the three-year-old wildcard factor and preferential draw element. The proof is in the pudding with the chatter leading into the race and how strong the field will be.

So much interest will be in the live barrier draw on Sky Racing 2 (Foxtel 527) at 6.30pm tonight.

We know Krug is one of only two three-year-olds in the race (Kashed Up being the other after his wildcard invite yesterday), meaning he will draw one or two and get a big head start on his major rivals.

It’s also likely Amazing Dream will be the only mare in the field, giving the Auckland Cup winner barrier three.

But there’s much interest where big guns like Expensive Ego, Copy That and even Spirit Of St Louis will draw, especially over the glorified sprint-like trip of 2138m around Albion Park.

Champion driver Luke McCarthy thinks it’s essentially a race in three with his own star and potential Australia’s best pacer Expensive Ego, Krug and Copy That.

“You’ve got the big three and then Amazing Dream and Spirit Of St Louis on the next level. I’ll be very surprised if one of that big three doesn’t win,” he said.

“Krug looked so good at Redcliffe and a great draw is a huge advantage around Albion Park, while I’ve driven the track a lot and horses can’t do what Copy That did last night … it was stunning.

“It’s a great concept and going to be a great race.

“I’m thrilled Expensive Ego had a hard run last night, he needed it and he thrives on it. He’ll also appreciate getting out from 1660m to 2138m. He’s so strong, but versatile too. I can make my own luck if needs be, but he can also sit and sprint if that’s our best option.

“Spirit Of St Louis jogged-in again, but this is a big, big rise in class for him. He’d need absolutely everything to go right to beat all three of the big guns.”

Anthony Butt is in the unique position of having won on Krug and Copy That in final lead-up races. He’s long been committed to Copy That next week and he’s happier about that after the four-year-old’s barnstorming win last Saturday night.

“He probably went even better than I thought he was to be honest,” he said. “I left Redcliffe the week before thinking Krug was unbeatable (in The Rising Sun), but now I know Copy That is good enough to beat him with the right luck,” he said.

What a gorgeous little, and I mean little, cameo Pink Galahs delivered on the stellar Albion Park card last Saturday night.

We’ve been waiting for Mattie Craven’s (pictured above) mare to return to the sort of form she showed to do the unthinkable and beat the older open-class trotters as a three-year-old filly in last year’s Group 1 Bill Collins Sprint.

She’s had her issues and there’s been a glimpse, but that was the Pink Galahs we love when the tiny trotter unleashed a paralysing sprint to thrash a handy field.

And how good is it to see her racing in the colours of the Healy family, made so famous by Australia’s greatest ever trotter Maori’s Idol!

Bec Bartley and Steve O’Donoghue had a fantastic ride for a few years with the injury-plagued but top-flight pacer San Carlo.

They must be pinching themselves to have what seems a ready-made replacement come along in Western Sonador.

While the newbie has a long way to go to match San Carlo’s deeds, his potential is so exciting.

After a dip into the big league earlier this year, Wester Sonador returned from a spell to win at Bendigo last Saturday night.

With megastars Lochinvar Art and Ride High in limbo, Victoria’s open-class ranks are lacking real star power and the likes of Western Sonador and Wolf Stride are among the top contenders right now.

No doubt we’ll see Western Sonador gets his chance in October’s Victoria Cup and probably the Sydney Inter Dominion after that.

They are also key targets for Wolf Stride, who is thrilling trainers Anthony Butt and Sonya Smith as he prepares to return from a spell.

By Adam Hamilton