Calls for Miracle Mile redraw!
VICTORIAN horsemen Aaron Dunn and Greg Sugars believe there is a case for the Miracle Mile barriers to be redrawn.
Set to contest the $1million Garrards-sponsored sprint during the weekend, the pair will have to wait until next Saturday night for a shot at glory in Australasia’s ultimate speed test.
The Grand Circuit gem should have been run and won two days ago, but was postponed after a deluge flooded Club Menangle.
Given authorities had no choice but to switch dates, Dunn and Sugars feel the draw should also be switched.
That would see Sugars’ drive – Better Eclipse – move from the outside of the front row to the pole, while Dunn’s stable star, Bondi Lockdown, would now draw barrier two!
On the reverse side, reigning champion King Of Swing moves to the extreme outside, with his stablemate Spirit Of St Louis to be one inside him.
“I think it’s only fair,” Dunn said, tongue-in-cheek. “It’s a different Saturday, so a different draw!
“We had the visitors’ draws at first, but we’ve been here the extra week which makes us adopted locals and worthy of locals’ draws.”
Sugars stated he would also be pleased with a change in starting positions.
“I’d be happy to switch the draws around, after all, it’s no longer the same night, so no longer need the same draw,” Sugars joked.
On a more serious note, Dunn is positive the extra week will benefit Bondi Lockdown, which earned his berth in the Group One with a phenomenal performance in the Chariots Of Fire a fortnight ago.
Driven by Dunn, the Australian Pacing Gold purchase was forced to work overtime in the ‘death seat’ before finishing second – beaten a metre-and-a-half by Better Eclipse – in a sensational 1:47.6.
“That run in the Chariots took its toll on him,” Dunn said. “He was a tired a horse for a few days so I had to ease up on him.
“He bounced back and was very bright on Saturday night, but I hadn’t had the perfect build up I would have liked during the past two weeks.
“Even though I was happy with the way he was during the few days before Saturday night, I still wished I’d had a bit more time, which now I do.
“He had a nice solid hit out with Expensive Ego yesterday and is feeling great.”
Sugars on the other hand is concerned the extra will work against Better Eclipse.
“One advantage he had was two weeks between the Chariots and Miracle Mile, while the others only had one week and some hard runs,” Sugars said.
“We felt that may work in his favour a little, but now the others have that extra week to really get back to their top.
“It is what it is though and the main thing to focus on is Better Eclipse is in top condition and now keeping him that way.”