‘King’ rewrites history in $1 million Miracle Mile

Champion pacer King Of Swing has rewritten harness racing history.

The Rocknroll Hanover entire became the first horse to win Australia’s richest race, the Miracle Mile, three times after winning the $1 million Grand Circuit event at Menangle tonight.

He bows out of racing with earnings in excess of $3million with connections deciding this is will be his last race start before retiring to stud.

King Of Swing won the 2020 and 2021 Miracle Mile features and reinsman Luke McCarthy is in awe of what the seven-year-old produced tonight.

With the race being postponed a week following torrential weather, it has been a challenging seven days for the stable dealing with floods but it was not enough to dethrone the ‘King’.

“This is just a massive thrill,” said McCarthy.

“After the week we’ve had and to have him at that level to win a Miracle Mile is unbelievable.

“It’s surreal . . . you dream of winning the Miracle Mile as a driver and to win three in-a-row is a dream come true.

“He is one of the best horses I’ve ever driven.”

King Of Swing had to work for his success.

After being crossed early by Mach Dan in a 25.6 first quarter, McCarthy eased King Of Swing away from the pegs to take the lead with outside pressure from Bondi Lockdown.

With a second quarter in 29 seconds, King Of Swing powered through the last two quarters in 28.4 and 26.2 seconds to hold off his stablemate Spirit Of St Louis by more than a metre.

Chariots Of Fire winner Better Eclipse was more than three metres away in third in a mile rate was 1:49.2.

Part-owner Mick Harvey expressed a sense of relief after the success.

“It’s just a relief . . . it’s history, it’s amazing,” he said.

“He is one of the best pacers we’ve ever seen.

“To win three Miracle Miles is just unbelievable.”

King Of Swing began his career in New Zealand and raced in Western Australia for more than a year before arriving at Cobbitty Equine Farm in 2020.

Trained by Craig Cross and then Belinda McCarthy while at Cobbitty, King Of Swing had 33 starts for 25 wins and seven placings there.

With tonight’s success, King Of Swing retires with a record of 44 wins and 18 placings in 82 starts, amassing earnings of $3,390,546.

He is the fifth richest Australasian pacer of all time.

Watch how the 2022 Garrards Miracle Mile unfolded:

To view the results from Menangle on Saturday night click here.

By Amanda Rando for Harnesslink