Young guns flying the Riverina flag

RIVERINA lads Cam Hart and Jason Grimson can cement themselves as the most lethal force in Australasian harness racing with victory in tomorrow night’s $1mil Miracle Mile.

The pair grew up little more than an hour apart – Hart in Junee and Grimson in Young – in a rich and proud harness racing heartland.

Both moved to the big smoke to try their luck, Grimson first and then Hart, but when they joined forces—Grimson as trainer and Hart as stable drive- the sparks started to fly.

Together, over the past 16 months, they have won four of Australasia’s biggest races.

The blazing streak started when I Cast No Shadow scored an upset win in the 2022 Inter Dominion final in Melbourne. Grimson had won the previous year with Boncel Benjamin but not with Hart in the sulky.

Then came the emergence of the best pacer they’ve “shared” so far, Swayzee. First, he upstaged Leap To Fame to win the Group 1 Blacks A Fake in Brisbane last July, and then he became just the second Aussie pacer in 36 years to beat the Kiwis in their famed Group 1 NZ Cup last November.

Just last week, Grimson and Hart combined to win the Group 1 Chariots Of Fire with a pacer in Frankie Ferocious (Captaintreacherous), who could potentially rival Swayzee for top seed in the stable.

It was Grimson’s 11th Group 1 win (nine in Australia and two in NZ) and Hart’s 14th (including those two with Grimson in NZ).

And they’re still so young. Hart is 25, and Grimson is 30.

For all they have achieved and so quickly, winning the Miracle Mile in their own backyard – Grimson trains at Menangle, and Hart does most of his driving there – would rival anything.

Grimson has a quarter of the eight-horse field with his two runners, the exciting Frankie Ferocious and resurrected Hi Manameisjeff.

They spent 24 hours digesting the barrier draw—Hi Manameisjeff (Art Major) will start from gate five and Frankie Ferocious from the outside gate (eight)—before agreeing Hart should drive the former.

“It’s a good position to be in, but the draw is a big help to ‘Jeff’, especially with the early speed he has. I think he’ll be in front before long and that’s a huge advantage,” Hart said.

Leaders have won the past five Miracle Miles, while no horse from Frankie Ferocious’ draw has won the great race.

“It’s amazing to be part of a race like this, especially teaming up with Jase. We’ve both made Sydney home, and the Miracle Mile is the biggest race on our home track with so much history behind it,” Hart said.

“Going to NZ and beating the Kiwis in that NZ Cup will take some topping because it’s so hard to do and so rare, but winning a Miracle Mile would be right up there with it.”

Hi Manameisjeff’s unbeaten record in nine starts at Menangle since joining Grimson’s stable, plus the ideal barrier draw, have seen him snatch favouritism from pin-up pacer Leap To Fame, who has a wide draw (seven) to overcome.

Leap To Fame is out to as much as $3.60, while Hi Manameisjeff is $3.10 favourite.

Despite his challenging draw, Frankie Ferocious, stunning winning all three starts for Grimson, is $8.50.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia