Miracle Mile Magic this weekend

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.

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