Draw favours defending champ…again!

THE first of two Miracle Mile qualifiers at Club Menangle on Saturday night promises to deliver a thrilling spectacle for onlookers.

A classy assembly of in-form pacers are poised to contest the $75,000 feature, including the past two Miracle Mile winners.

Don Hugo will launch his title defence, while Leap To Fame will begin his quest to regain the position as the reigning champion of the $1million event.

Leap To Fame overcame a wide draw to secure the 2024 edition in 1:48.3 before finding Don Hugo too slick last season.

Leap To Fame drew poorly again and was forced to work overtime in the ‘death seat’ as Don Hugo led throughout to score by a metre-and-a-half in 1:48.4.

Barriers have favoured Don Hugo once more, with the Luke McCarthy-trained stallion to begin from the pole.

Leap To Fame received barrier four, but slots into three with the removal of the emergency.

Successful in 1:53.7 over 2300 metres at Menangle last week, Don Hugo was triumphant over Leap To Fame during their most recent clash, which was in Group One The Blacks A Fake at Albion Park on December 6.

On that occasion Don Hugo led from barrier four before being eased to take a trail behind The Janitor as Leap To Fame did all the bullocking in the breeze after coming from the second row.

Finishing along the sprint lane, Don Hugo regained the front in the final stride to score by a short half-head from Leap To Fame.

As for their pending clash, trainer Grant Dixon is resolved to the fact Leap To Fame will once again be required to do the ‘hard yards’.

“There is a stack of speed in the field,” Dixon said. “I just hope they go hard and even.

“It’s hard to say where he will be in the run, but he will have to work at some stage.

“Overall, there are quite a few in really good form in the heats and it will equate to a fantastic Miracle Mile that’s for sure.”