Evergreen pacer secures first Miracle Mile berth

SO overwhelmed by winning tonight’s Newcastle Mile, trainer Scott Ewen was unable to take part in the presentation.

Ewen captured the Group Two with evergreen pacer Bulletproof Boy, which earned a berth into the Miracle Mile in the process.

Australasia’s premier sprint, the $1million Miracle Mile is scheduled to be conducted at Club Menangle on March 14.

“I couldn’t talk at the presentation,” Ewen said. “It is the most emotional I’ve ever been after a win. I was going to cry and had to get the owners to do it.

“He’s in the Miracle Mile, I can’t believe it…the Miracle Mile!

“It will be the biggest race I’ve ever contested.”

With James Herbertson in the cart, Bulletproof Boy was restrained to the tail of the field from the outside of the front row as Cheerstolou led from barrier three.

Four-deep around the home turn, the son of Art Official unleashed his customary finishing burst to complete a metre-and-a-half win from Rakero Rocket. Bainbridge was three metres away third.

“He went like a jet,” Ewen said. “They were 200 out, but I knew he was home.

“I could just see him going two strides to their one, it was beautiful to watch.”

Taking his record to 52 wins and 53 placings from 227 starts, the 11-year-old stopped the clock in a personal best 1:50.5.

Set to return to Ewen’s Cranbourne base, Bulletproof Boy will be kept “ticking along quietly” ahead of the Miracle Mile.

“Now we go home and keep him ticking along quietly,” Ewen said. “I was asked if we will stay up here instead of going back and forth, but he settles better at home and winds down again.

“Now we hope for a good draw in the Miracle Mile. He got one as the second emergency last year, so hopefully he gets the same marble this time.”