Tactics earn a ticket to the $1million Miracle Mile

Despite not having driven a Group 1 winner for some time harness racing driver Nathan Jack showed experience counts when steering Mach Dan to victory in tonight’s $100,000 Newcastle Mile.

It was the first time in race conditions Jack had partnered the son of Mach Three and after spearing him to the lead from barrier two it was like he had driven the pacer in all of his 40 starts.

That move was the key to success in the feature and earned the pair a ticket to the $1million Miracle Mile at Menangle on March 5.

“That felt good,” said Jack returning to scale.

After finding the front and holding out Inter Dominion winner Boncel Benjamin, Jack was able to then dictate terms for the remainder of the 1609m event.

Burning early in a slick first quarter of 26 seconds, Jack was able to control the tempo letting Mach Dan roll through the middle half in quarters of 32.2 and 28 seconds.

It was a quick dash home and with a closing quarter of 26.5 seconds, only the horses that raced on the pegs could get close to leader.

Balraj flashed home to finish a neck away in second after racing three pegs while Max Delight was third having raced behind the leader.

The mile rate was 1:52.7.

“I just wanted to come out quick enough and he was just jogging and held the others out easy to my surprise,” said Jack.

“After Boncel Benjamin landed outside the leader he couldn’t afford to put more pressure on because he did so much work early so I was able to get away with a slow quarter.

“We just got lucky.”

Jack was a 17-time Group 1 winner before this feature and it has been four years since his last victory at that level.

Having served time on the sidelines for alleged race fixing, Jack fought a lengthy battle in court and regained his licence in January this year.

It has not been an easy return for the 36-year-old having recently been kicked in the face by a horse, however, in his 18 drives this year Jack has secured seven wins and four placings that now includes this Group 1 Newcastle Mile.

Trained by Emma Stewart, Mach Dan gave the Victorian mentor her first success in this feature.

The five-year-old gelding is raced by Danny Zavitsanos, Joanna Zavitsanos and Warren Viney.

To view the results from Newcastle on Friday night click here.

By Amanda Rando for Harnesslink