Official Website of THE BREEDERS VOICE Inc. ABN 51 766 986 365
Join Today
The Breeders Voice is the platform for Standardbred breeding enthusiasts. Our focus is on educating & encouraging breeders, whilst actively promoting all aspects of Harness Racing. We promote and encourage an open interchange of ideas and opinions,

MIRACLE MILE 2022


4th March 2022
By Admin.
Even if the qualifying race format for selection of the Miracle Mile Field has robbed this premier race on the Grand Circuit Calendar of the intrigue and controversy - that occurred under the 'Invitational System' of yesteryear - there is plenty of excitement building around the 2022 edition of the great race! Can King of Swing make it three in a row? Can the horse first across the line in December's InterDominion Final snare a Miracle Mile victory

Even if the qualifying race format for selection of the Miracle Mile Field has robbed this premier race on the Grand Circuit Calendar of the intrigue and controversy - that occurred under the 'Invitational System' of yesteryear - there is plenty of excitement building around the 2022 edition of the great race!  

Can KING OF SWING make it three in a row?  

Can the horse first across the line in December's InterDominion Final snare a Miracle Mile victory less than three months on - to further underscore the versatility of the standardbred?  

 

The Breeders Voice have analysed this year's field to help better understand what 'makes' a Miracle Mile starter in this day and age, and we find that:

  • 5-year-olds dominate, with four of the eight starters (emergencies excluded) being 2016 models, alongside two 7-year-olds, and two 4-year-olds (the latter courtesy of their Chariots of Fire runs)
  • there are five Australian bred vs. three New Zealand bred
  • there are five geldings up against three colts.  No mares!
  • collectively the 8 starters have amassed in excess of $ 5.5 million in prizemoney - for an average 'per start' return of just north of $14K
  • the novice of the field, in terms of starts, is BETTER ECLIPSE (with just 24) closely followed by BONDI LOCKDOWN (28) and EXPENSIVE EGO (34)
  • amazingly half of this field have previously broken the 1:50 mark when winning - with bragging rights on this metric going to BETTER ECLIPSE (1:47.6) just slightly ahead of KING OF SWING (1:47.9).  Will My Field Marshall's track record time of 1:46.9 perhaps be under threat tonight - despite the heavy rain that has fallen around the Menangle region this past week?    

 

And what about the breeding profile of these eight runners?  

  • the first notable fact is that none are sired by Bettors Delight - although BETTER ECLIPSE is by Betterthancheddar, a son of Bettors. And, of course, MACH DAN is out of a Bettors Delight mare in Bettor Give It
  • significantly all runners are by different sires!  This is a positive, we believe ...
  • back a generation we have multiple credits going to Mach Three as the sire of both Sir Lincoln (Bundoran) and Somebeachsomewhere (Bondi Lockdown)  and  Art Major appears on the distaff side of both Spirit of St. Louis' and Bondi Lockdown's pedigree
  • then at Generation-3, the standouts are Artsplace with 4 credits in pedigrees of this field - followed by Abercrombie with 3 credits - and dual appearances for In The Pocket / Matts Scooter / Direct Scooter / and Cams Card Shark 

 

Obviously, race tactics will play a huge role in determining the outcome of this intriguing contest, especially in the first 200 metres or so - but, as is so often the case in high-end sprint races, it may well prove to be a 'staying contest' in the end. Best of luck to all participants, and their connections.

 

PS: a Speedmap prediction courtesy of SkyRacing's Brittany Graham can be viewed here

<< Previous | Next >>