Press statement
November 26, 2009
Miracle Mile Magic this weekend
Australia’s most famous harness race, the Miracle Mile, is about to get even more famous this weekend when the best in
Australia go head-to-head with the best from New Zealand.
“This is the most impressive Miracle Mile field ever,” says New Zealand Racing Board racing operations manager Michael
Dore.
In the line up is New Zealand trained Kiwi Ingenuity, New Zealand’s fastest horse ever over the mile; Monkey King,
winner of the New Zealand Cup and NZFFA; and Auckland Reactor, twice New Zealand Horse of the Year.
They will be up against Smoken Up, Australia’s record holder for the mile, and Blacks A Fake, two times Australian Horse
of the Year, to name just two in the line up.
Normally the Miracle Mile is run late at night New Zealand time at Harold Park in central Sydney. The race has moved to
the new course at Menangle in south-west Sydney and set to run at the much better 6.40pm time for New Zealand punters.
A new record time for the mile is expected.
Dore said the New Zealand summer calendar is about to hit full stride. “We have the Levin Classic at Otaki tomorrow
(Friday). This will be a good excuse to take the day off and make it a long weekend. The race day has normally been held
on a Thursday in the past.
“We have the Avondale Cup next Wednesday, the Captain Cook Stakes at Trentham coming up on December 5, followed by the
Waikato Cup, and Manawatu Cup; all building towards the Christmas and New Year Carnival races at Ellerslie. It’s all
looking pretty exciting.”
The Captain Cook Stakes used to be held over Labour Weekend, but has been set back to the new date with the expectation
of better weather.
Ends.