• Kiwi Trotters in Miracle Mile Could be Limited

    We could rightly be accused of giving short shrift to the trotters, so here is our token nod to the code as preparations proceed for invitations to qualify for the $750,000 Miracle Mile that will jump in a bit over a week in Sydney.

    Kiwi champion Lazarus has already secured a spot in the field, but high calibre pacers Smolda and Have Faith In Me have their work cut out for them, as they have drawn wide in qualifying races and will have to contend with on-speed favourites Lennytheshark and Hectorjayjay.

    Have Faith In Me and Smolda will be under pressure to finish top two and gain automatic entry to the Miracle Mile.

    One New Zealand-trained pacer that seems to offer an opportunity for Miracle Mile inclusion is Ultimate Machete, a three year-old that will make his Australian debut in the NSW Derby priced at $1.04.

    The New South Wales Harness Racing Commission, responsible for issuing the invitations to the Miracle Mile, hopefully will find Have Faith In Me and Smolda each to have sufficient appeal as to be worthy of inclusion, but with the level of racing in Menangle likely to feature deep fields and some brutal racing, it is hard to predict whether or not usually reliable trotters can be depended upon.