2011/12 Miracle Mile

Must be about time to try and start peicing the field together!
Once again; this year the Cordina is the week before (19/11) is an automatic invite race. However the Newcaslte Mile (5/11 for $70K) has now officially been made an automatic invite race. On the 12th is another mile race, the Coca-Cola Amitil Sprint, at Menangle that is automatic invite. The Coke and Cordina are worth $75K each.
In the past I've been critical of the Cordina being auto invite and the Newcastle Mile being just about auto invite. But now its all official with the 3 lead ups in succession for great prizemoney I believe its a great carnival like set up and hope its a success.

It also makes picking the field harder!

Smoken Up and Mr Feelgood are just about certanties. ITMQ if connections want to come?
One from NZ. Even if Smoken Up wins the Cup they will invite one. Would be good to have Auckland Reactor and/or Monkey King in the field.
A lot depends on the opposition on the day but the way Franco Jamar is going he could certaintly win a lead up race.
Washakie is no stranger to winning the Cordina.
Broadways Best for the obligatory mare invite?
There is a stack of horses that could bob up in of the auto-invite races and win; depending on the opposition (I mean what if Smoken Up and Mr Feelgood turn up or what if it's just a Saturday night Menangle FFA)

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiebreno

Broadways Best for the obligatory mare invite?

Don't get me started on "obligatory" mare invites. If they are in the top 8 horses, invite them. If that means that 3 out of the 8 spots are taken by mares, so be it. But for goodness sake don't invite them JUST because they are the best mare in the country (this is not a comment about Broadways Best, just a mares comment in general). Ie if they are a Blossom Lady they deserve to be there.... but NOT because they lay claim to be Australia's best mare IMHO. The Miracle Mile is suppose to be the best of the best IMHO :)

Smoken Up
ITMQ
Mr Feelgood
Auckland Reactor
Monkey King
Franco Jamar
....................buggered if I know after that. Picked the obvious ones.
Who else?
Another 2-4?
Will they go with 8 or 10?

btw...Franco Jamar looked VERY good on Friday. Absolutely smashed them.

The conditions for this year's Miracle Mile are :-

MEM26111101 MS SEW EURODRIVE MIRACLE MILE $500,000 Trophies & Rug 1609 RBD
An event open to a maximum eight Pacers (exclusive of Reserves).The winner of the Newcastle Mile, Coca Cola - Amatil Sprint, Cordina Sprint, receive automatic invitations if accepted by the connections. One invitation may be given after the running of the New Zealand Cup, all other invitations will be issued by the Directors of the NSWHRC but only from horses who competed in the Newcastle Mile, Coca Cola - Amatil Sprint and Cordina Sprint. Reserves (if any) drawn with the invited Pacers)

Note that there is no reference to the Ladyship Mile. A mare will only be selected by winning or competing in one of the designated lead up races, same as for every other candidate.
ITMQ will only get an invite if they bring him over and race him in a lead up race. From what I have read that is not in their current plans.
Only one horse will be selected from the NZ Cup. If Smoken Up goes over and wins their cup then it should be him which will mean that AR, MK, etc. will have to come and earn their way into the race through the lead up races.
Note also a maximum of eight starters.

If correct and there will only be eight starters , as last year , I just can't see the reasoning. In every other 1609 mobile staged throughout the year the minimum field allows ten starters off the front line.

A smaller field for the Miracle Mile at Harold Park seemed OK on the smaller track , but why this one race being cut back to just eight?

Quote:

Originally Posted by eliteblood

The conditions for this year's Miracle Mile are :-

MEM26111101 MS SEW EURODRIVE MIRACLE MILE $500,000 Trophies & Rug 1609 RBD
An event open to a maximum eight Pacers (exclusive of Reserves).The winner of the Newcastle Mile, Coca Cola - Amatil Sprint, Cordina Sprint, receive automatic invitations if accepted by the connections. One invitation may be given after the running of the New Zealand Cup, all other invitations will be issued by the Directors of the NSWHRC but only from horses who competed in the Newcastle Mile, Coca Cola - Amatil Sprint and Cordina Sprint. Reserves (if any) drawn with the invited Pacers)

Note that there is no reference to the Ladyship Mile. A mare will only be selected by winning or competing in one of the designated lead up races, same as for every other candidate.
ITMQ will only get an invite if they bring him over and race him in a lead up race. From what I have read that is not in their current plans.
Only one horse will be selected from the NZ Cup. If Smoken Up goes over and wins their cup then it should be him which will mean that AR, MK, etc. will have to come and earn their way into the race through the lead up races.
Note also a maximum of eight starters.

Didn't see the bolded bit. I like this new format even better. A great move. Enough the grey not things are black and white.

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Summers

If correct and there will only be eight starters , as last year , I just can't see the reasoning. In every other 1609 mobile staged throughout the year the minimum field allows ten starters off the front line.

A smaller field for the Miracle Mile at Harold Park seemed OK on the smaller track , but why this one race being cut back to just eight?

How are horses 7 and 8 let alone 9 and 10 going to win from there in 1.48? One year BAF, Auckland Reactor and Melpark Major just couldn't get into the race because they got stuck back.

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Summers

A smaller field for the Miracle Mile at Harold Park seemed OK on the smaller track , but why this one race being cut back to just eight?

To keep the race exclusive. I personally would like to see it back to 6 runners but I know that won't ever happen again due to turnover etc

Quote:

Originally Posted by triplev123

btw...Franco Jamar looked VERY good on Friday. Absolutely smashed them.

Yes but that field wasn't exactly Grand Circuit calibre either.... I think he will get into the MM but it will be a huge leap to beat horses like Smoken Up and Mr Feelgood. :) Not saying he can't do it.... but he still has to step up. I suppose he has beaten everything before him ATM and that is all you can do. He certainly is the new kid on the block and what a breath of fresh air he is :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by eliteblood

The conditions for this year's Miracle Mile are :-

MEM26111101 MS SEW EURODRIVE MIRACLE MILE $500,000 Trophies & Rug 1609 RBD
An event open to a maximum eight Pacers (exclusive of Reserves).The winner of the Newcastle Mile, Coca Cola - Amatil Sprint, Cordina Sprint, receive automatic invitations if accepted by the connections. One invitation may be given after the running of the New Zealand Cup, all other invitations will be issued by the Directors of the NSWHRC but only from horses who competed in the Newcastle Mile, Coca Cola - Amatil Sprint and Cordina Sprint. Reserves (if any) drawn with the invited Pacers)

Note that there is no reference to the Ladyship Mile. A mare will only be selected by winning or competing in one of the designated lead up races, same as for every other candidate.
ITMQ will only get an invite if they bring him over and race him in a lead up race. From what I have read that is not in their current plans.
Only one horse will be selected from the NZ Cup. If Smoken Up goes over and wins their cup then it should be him which will mean that AR, MK, etc. will have to come and earn their way into the race through the lead up races.
Note also a maximum of eight starters.

I'm still dirty about Make Mine Cullen getting in over Melpark Major last year. Two starts before the Miracle Mile Melpark Major beat Smoken Up vs Make Mine Cullen having her first start in Open Grand Circuit company. Melpark Major was penalised for not travelling to NSW to race beforehand but Make Mine Cullen was not. I found the whole thing very political and very disappointing.... :(

Depending on how he goes in the NZ cup i'd keep a watchful eye on Terror to love,might be a year early but that boy certainly has some talent!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Max

Depending on how he goes in the NZ cup i'd keep a watchful eye on Terror to love,might be a year early but that boy certainly has some talent!

Nice one; I'd expect an invite for winning the NZ Cup.
Raglan in as well.

Thanks,could not agree more Brendan, Terror to love went even better than i thought he'd go,the invite must surely be in the "priority mail" section.

Think itmq got an invite today and will head across if he can get a direct flight to Sydney.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flashing Red

To keep the race exclusive. I personally would like to see it back to 6 runners but I know that won't ever happen again due to turnover etc

Flashing Red, as always, is correct.
Pathetic. Hopeless gamblers in the pubs put, at a resereved guess 50% of the NSW TAB pool in tonights Cordina in the final 5 minutes while they got up to take a leak and didn't really know who Mr Feelgood was anyway but because he was favourite backed him or backed another one trying to make a night out. They're going to bet 2 runners or 22 runners. The big timers I would assume would be more confident backing ITMQ or Mr Feelgood if it was guaranteed worse he could be was 3 lengths back with a clear shot rather than 4 lengths back and stuck behind a tiring Lisagain or behind Karloo Mick who just can't quite sprint with them.

Last year when 9, my son said at bedtime upon our return home from the Miracle Mile, "That was the trip of a lifetime".

Last year our main reason for travelling was Smoken Up. This year again but also because of the great time we'd had the year before.

You know how often the actual experience doesn't live up to your expectations? And how the race doesn't live up to the pre race hype? And you know how when you when you do something twice and the 2nd time is never as good as the first?

Not here!!

Our summary of Miracle Mile...

Complaints - ZERO

Bouquets -

Harness Racing industry. Have always thought a very welcoming people. Our experiences at the weekend proved it again. We met people met at the hotel simply because son had the formguide spread out all over the table at breakfast. Even met people at the airport yesterday who came up to us because we still had our Miracle Mile caps on. One in particular who did something for son that 'capped off' a perfect trip. I couldnt have scripted that any better. And we met triplev123!

HRNSW. As we watched the ever increasing rain falling at breakfast Saturday morning was wishing I'd packed the gumboots. We'd been out to the track Friday already and seen all the ever increasing puddles so were dreading what it would look like for the big night. Couldn't believe the transformation when got there on Saturday after only a few hours sunshine. Could even sit on the grass without getting a wet arse. Awesome! A huge well done to all the staff at Menangle and HRNSW.

Fred Hastings. You're a marvel! We missed the call of the last half mile of the big race because the noise of the crowd around us drowned out the PA system! But your calling of the races certainly more than added to the excitement. 10 out of 10 Fred!

Lance and Trigger. Way too good them! We think he'd already proven it, but he has now proven beyond any doubt to be the very best. Had to work more than any other horse in the race and still held them off (again). Have seen many champion horses in my time but never one with more guts and will to win. Lance and Trigger make the races they are in what they are; Exciting spectacles that are worth going a long way to see.

To all the above, as the music playing over the PA said as we reluctantly made our way to the car park after the last, "Simply the best".

On the plane home yesterday afternoon;

"Can we come back again next year dad?"
"I don't know Smoken Up be back again. He'll be 11 next year mate."
"Of course he will. Karloo Mick is 12 dad."
"Good point son."
"And dad remember next year..... Sushi Sushi."
"I'll make the bookings tomorrow boy."

Last night at bedtime son said through very, very weary eyes "Dad, is it possible to have 2 trips of a lifetime?"

When went back later to check on him could hear (in his very best Fred Hastings voice) "They're into the straight in the 2012 Miracle Mile. Smoken Up and Sushi Sushi are locked together. And here's Palais Du Louvre out of the pack......."

Sweet dreams boy....

And we met triplev123!
Steady on,someone will be getting a big head.

Nice story Paul. Keep taking that boy of your's - nothing better.
I haven't been to a miracle mile for years but making sure I am there next year.

That was a terrific piece Paul...

These are the stories he will tell his kids when he is older...... You are a good Dad for making such an effort to build these memories......

Hopefully next year I can say Hi to Luke and Yourself....And Ray, if you get there too

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toohard

"Dad, is it possible to have 2 trips of a lifetime?"

Great stuff Paul. This is the essence of harness racing/horses wrapped up in a nutshell. Keeps the dream alive :)

Wonderful yarn Paul ... brilliant in fact, however I am worried about your ability to judge a good time from a bad one "And we met triplev123!" if that was a highlight it is a worry lol.

It was good fun meeting a few people and catching up with some old friends.
The racing was great too. Jrn should count himself as being a bit unlucky that Mr. Beattie is no longer the Chief Steward here in NSW. Given the interference that occurred in the MM and given the precedent set in Vertigal's Gold Tiara Final, it is highly likely Jrn would not have been suspended were Mr. Beattie still around.

Good story Paul glad the little bloke enjoyed himself

Quote:

Originally Posted by triplev123

It was good fun meeting a few people and catching up with some old friends.
The racing was great too. Jrn should count himself as being a bit unlucky that Mr. Beattie is no longer the Chief Steward here in NSW. Given the interference that occurred in the MM and given the precedent set in Vertigal's Gold Tiara Final, it is highly likely Jrn would not have been suspended were Mr. Beattie still around.

Now Jamie that is not fair because in the Tiara the interference did not come from one individual driver and one day you will understand that and whilst contributory negligence is not a defense for carelessness neither driver shifted enough to have action taken against his licence.

Well at least that what the stewards found I am happy they got it right.

The burdon of proof in terms of upholding a protest should not evaporate by virtue of there being multiple contributors to the interference. That two drivers put on a squeeze play instead of one does not & should not any difference make, IMO, as far as them subsequently being relegated is concerned.

Quote:

Originally Posted by triplev123

The burdon of proof in terms of upholding a protest should not evaporate by virtue of there being multiple contributors to the interference. That two drivers put on a squeeze play instead of one does not & should not any difference make, IMO, as far as them subsequently being relegated is concerned.

You are entitled to your opinion, however can you point me in the direction where relegation or protest upheld has ever happened in the circumstances you outline in Australia or anywhere for that matter

Hello Paul,

Nice story and good for several reasons. After all the negative harness publicity lately its great to hear of people geting such a thrill out of this great sport. Also a huge bonus to have the younger generation getting involved. Hopefully your son will tell his mates at school and maybe a few more might like to make the trip.

It would make for a great road trip there and back with a few of his friends and parents. !

Interesting discussion of the tiara given the Perth racing last Saturday with He's Remarkable. Similar circumstances, protest uphelp, lawyers now called in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thevoiceofreason

You are entitled to your opinion, however can you point me in the direction where relegation or protest upheld has ever happened in the circumstances you outline in Australia or anywhere for that matter

[VVV] So let me get this straight.
Are you suggesting that the justification for dismissal is the lack of precedent?
That if 1 horse clips another horse, 1 on 1, it is able to be dealt with....but if 2 horses clip another horse, 2 on 1, it's all bets are off because that has never been done before? :confused::confused::confused::confused::confused:

No that is not what I was saying, if two horses are involved in interference to a third runner both shift but the bulk of the interference is judged to have been caused by the horse that finished behind the sufferer lets say 90% the one that finishes behind and without that horses shift there may have been no incident because the outside horses shift was marginal at best, then the protest would be dismissed or in the case of relegation it would not be invoked.

I was asking if you can lead me to any circumstances where you say that has not been the course of action in the past or since.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiebreno

Interesting discussion of the tiara given the Perth racing last Saturday with He's Remarkable. Similar circumstances, protest uphelp, lawyers now called in.

Brendan

Having seen both videos the two incidents are worlds apart in the Perth race McEvoy was judged to have shifted out at the 600m and caused a chain reaction back through the field.

At Bathurst the argument is who caused the bulk of the trouble the winner or the horse to the inside shifting out slowly up the straight, the stewards blamed the inside horse and therefore dismissed the protest.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thevoiceofreason

Brendan

Having seen both videos the two incidents are worlds apart in the Perth race McEvoy was judged to have shifted out at the 600m and caused a chain reaction back through the field.

At Bathurst the argument is who caused the bulk of the trouble the winner or the horse to the inside shifting out slowly up the straight, the stewards blamed the inside horse and therefore dismissed the protest.

Yeah my bad. I actually haven't seen the Perth race but it just sounded similar.