Miracle Mile stats – who do they favour?

SINCE its inception, the Miracle Mile has become the event that captures the imagination – and opinion – of the harness racing population.

Developed in 1967, the Group One was designed with a single mission in mind…creating a ‘miracle’.

To be more precise, the dream was to see the two-minute barrier broken for the first time under race conditions in Australia.

To everyone’s delight, New Zealand wonder mare Robin Dundee achieved the feat during inaugural running, stopping the clock in 1:59.

This year enthusiasts are hoping to see another miracle, with the dream being a serious assault on the world record 1:45.4.

At minimum, the 1:46.9 Australasian record – set in the 2018 Miracle Mile – is expected to tumble given the speed of the elite eight-horse field.

As for the numbers, five-year-olds have been the most successful, however, as the only runner that age, Braeview Kelly, is hampered by mares having the poorest record.

Six-year-olds are next in line, with Spirit Of St Louis, Honolua Bay, Mach Dan and Expensive Ego in that category.

Add the barriers into the equation and the odds stack in Honolua Bay’s favour given more winners have come from four than any other draw.

Speaking of odds, the Emma Stewart-trained son of Somebeachsomewhere heads TAB Fixed Odds markets at $2.90.

On the downside, favourites have been beaten more times than they’ve been triumphant.

As we count down to tonight’s $1million Garrards-sponsored edition at Club Menangle, here are some statistics on the race which has become the ultimate speed test on this side of the equator.

SEX OF WINNERS:
3 Mares – (Robin Dundee, 1967 – Norms Daughter, June 1996 – Baby Bling, April 2013)
26 Stallions – (Last winner – King Of Swing, 2022)
26 Geldings – (Last winner – Spankem, 2019)

AGES OF WINNERS:
4-Y-O – 7
5-Y-O – 19
6-Y-O – 13
7-Y-O – 9
8-Y-O – 5
9-Y-O – 1
12-Y-O – 1

SUCCESSFUL BARRIERS:
1 – 11 (Last winner, King Of Swing – 2022)
2 – 10 (Last winner, Be Good Johnny – 2005)
3 – 6 (Last winner, Baby Bling – April 2013)
4 – 13 (Last winner, King Of Swing – 2020)
5 – 10 (Last winner, King Of Swing – 2021)
6 – 4 (Last winner, Double Identity – 2002)
7 – 1 (Last winner, Spankem – 2019)
8 – 0

FIVE FASTEST WINNERS:
My Field Marshal (2018) – 1:46.9
Have Faith In Me (2016) – 1:47.5
Spankem (2019) – 1:47.7
King Of Swing (2020) – 1:48
Christen Me (2014) – 1:49.1

FIVE SLOWEST WINNERS:
The Scotsman (1979) – 2:00.7
Bay Foyle (1972) – 2:00.6
Pure Steel (1978) and Locarno (1980) – 2:00.4
Chokin (1993) – 2:00

CONSECUTIVE WINNERS:
Westburn Grant (1989 and ‘90)
Chokin (1993 and ‘94)
Holmes D G (1999 and 2000)
Sokyola (2003 and ‘04)
Be Good Johnny (2005 and ‘06)
Smoken Up (2010 and ‘11)
King Of Swing (2020m ’21 and ’22)

MOST APPEARANCES:
Paleface Adios – 7
1974 – 2nd (Hondo Grattan 1)
1975 – 5th (Young Quinn 1)
1976 – 1st (Don’t Retreat 2, Hondo Grattan 3)
1977 – 2nd (Royal Force 2)
1978 – 2nd (Pure Steel 1)
1979 – 2nd (The Scotsman 1)
1980 – 3rd (Locarno 1, Pure Steel 2)

WHERE WINNERS TRAINED:
New South Wales – 18 (Last winner, King Of Swing – 2022)
New Zealand – 15 (Last winner, Spankem – 2019)
Western Australia – 7 (Last winner, Norms Daughter – June 1996)
Victoria – 11 (Last winner, Lennytheshark – 2017)
Queensland – 3 (Last winner, Be Good Johnny – 2006)
Tasmania – 1 (Last winner, Halwes – 1968)

FAVOURITES:
23 Successful – 32 Unsuccessful

BEATEN WHEN ODDS-ON:
Preux Chevalier – 8/11 – Last in 1984
Village Kid – 4/9 – 3rd in December 1986
Il Vicolo – 4/5 – 2nd in June 1996
Iraklis – 9/10 – 3rd in 1997
Blacks A Fake – 4/7 – 5th in 2008
Excel Stride – 5/4 – 4th in April 2013
Beautide – 9/4 – 2nd in November 2014

MOST SUCCESSFUL TRAINERS:
Barry Purdon – Christopher Vance (1991), Chokin (1993 and ‘94) and Holmes DG (1999 and 2000)
Lance Justice – Sokyola (2003 and ‘04) and Smoken Up (2010 and ‘11)

MOST SUCCESSFUL DRIVERS:
Vic Frost – Lucky Creed (1970), Westburn Grant (1989 and ‘90)
Tony Herlihy – Christopher Vance (1991), Chokin (1993 and ‘94)
Lance Justice – Sokyola (2003), Smoken Up (2010 and ‘11)
Luke McCarthy – King Of Swing (2020, ’21 and ’22)