Star mare might take a shock run at Miracle Mile

One of the greatest harness racing mares Australia has seen, Ladies In Red (Mach Three) could take a shock run at the $1mil Miracle Mile.

Despite not having raced for almost four months, trainer Emma Stewart said the millionaire mare could have a first-up crack at one of the two Miracle Mile qualifying sprints at Menangle tomorrow (Saturday) week.

Ladies In Red has never finished worse than second in 30 starts, winning 24, including seven at Group 1 level.

The six-year-old has raced “the boys” just once for a runaway win in the Group 1 Rising Sun, where she beat Leap To Fame at Albion Park on July 9, 2022.

“She’s ready to go. She may go to Menangle. We’ll decide with Bill and Anne (Anderson, owners) in the next couple of days,” trainer Emma Stewart said.

For all of pin-up pacer Leap To Fame’s greatness and recent dominance, Ladies In Red’s presence would further add to what looms as his biggest challenge in the Miracle Mile on March 9.

Also aiming to bring down Leap To Fame is a vintage crop of four-year-olds headed by Mark Purdon’s Don’t Stop Dreaming, who ran a slashing second to Leap To Fame at his first try in the big league in the Group 1 Hunter Cup on February 3.

Don’t Stop Dreaming, fellow Kiwi Its Merlin and Jason Grimson’s latest star Frankie Ferocious will first lock hooves in Saturday week’s Group 1 Chariots Of Fire at Menangle.

Given the terrific recent form line between the two races, at least two of them are expected to progress to the Miracle Mile the following week.

The past eight Chariots Of Fire winners have won or been placed in the Miracle Mile, including Catch A Wave, who won the big double last year.

The strict qualifying conditions of the Miracle Mile mean even Leap To Fame still has to qualify despite having already won the Inter Dominion and Hunter Cup in recent months.

The Queensland sensation is aiming to do so through tonight’s $100,000 Group 2 Newcastle Mile, where only victory will be enough.

Defeat would mean Leap To Fame has to back up in one of Saturday week’s qualifiers, possibly against Ladies In Red.

Meanwhile, Don’t Stop Dreaming and Its Merlin strut their stuff at Menangle tomorrow (Saturday) night.

Its Merlin, who boasts 15 wins from 21 NZ starts, will make his Aussie debut in the Paleface Adios Stakes, where he will need a top-four finish to ensure his spot in the Chariots Of Fire.

Don’t Stop Dreaming has already qualified for the Chariots through his Hondo Grattan win last Saturday, but trainer Mark Purdon wanted to sharpen him with another run this week.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia