Victorian runners hoping to nab an elusive Miracle Mile

The barrier draw has paved the way for Saturday night’s $1 million Garrards Miracle Mile trophy to make its way back to Victoria.

The spoils associated with the country’s greatest test of harness racing speed and stamina have only been south of the border once in the past 12 years, with the David Aiken-trained Lennytheshark (Four Starzzz Shark) successfully flying the flag for Victoria in 2017.

Providing emergency Major Meister doesn’t start, the $2.80 favorite Honolua Bay (Somebeachsomewhere) will launch from gate three alongside his stablemate Hurricane Harley in two, while the $3.80 second favorite Catch A Wave (Captaintreacherous) will keep the popular elect company from gate four.

Andy Gath has orchestrated a near impeccable preparation for Catch A Wave’s tilt at the Mile.

“I thought the two runs in the Mercury 80 over 1200 metres would sharpen him up in preparation for the Chariots Of Fire and the Miracle Mile, which of course are both over 1609 metres,” Gath said.

“All four runs back this time in have been good, even his run in the Paleface Adios Stakes coming from last to qualify was terrific.”

Gath is philosophical regarding the barrier draw.

“It’s an okay draw where we are placed to go forward and then see how it plays out from there,” he said.

Catch A Wave’s career best performance to sit parked outside Captain Ravishing and prevail in the Chariots Of Fire has given Gath cause for optimism.

“It has given us the confidence to know we have a horse who can sit outside them in fast time and win, they went 1:49 in the Chariots and given it was a wet track you could probably take another second off that time,” he said.

Gath is hoping its second time lucky, with his only other runner to have contested the race being Hearts Legend, who finished fifth behind Double Identity in 2002.

Honolua Bay’s driver David Moran served notice the Del-Re National A. G. Hunter Cup winner would be asked to extend in the early stages of the race if required.

“This horse has strengthened up amazingly in recent months and has bodied up nicely,” Moran said.

“People may think that he needs to be driven conservatively at the start but that’s not the case and he is more than capable of being driven off the gate and still finish off the race over a mile.”

Trainer Emma Stewart has a record four runners in the race with pre barrier draw favorite Captain Ravishing (gate seven) and Mach Dan (six) joining Honolua Bay and Hurricane Harley as stable representatives.

Stewart expects Captain Ravishing to be a more settled horse than when he was runner up to Catch A Wave in the Chariots Of Fire.

“He pulled in the preliminary, which he never does, we backed off his work a bit anticipating the trip and the hot weather – I think he was more fresh than anything,” Stewart said.

“His run wasn’t bad, he probably went around 1:49 himself, it’s not like he dropped out and I was still pretty happy with him.”

by John Dunne, for Harness Racing Victoria