A golden era of harness racing received the perfect injection of talent with the win of star four-year-old mare Captains Mistress in the Chariots of Fire at Club Menangle on Saturday night.
On a stellar night’s racing, the two pacers acknowledged as the best in this country, Leap to Fame and Swayzee also won through to qualify for this weekend’s $1m Miracle Mile.
Yet after drawing well in gate four, and destined to come from gate three when the second emergency comes out, Captains Mistress showed she has the talent and the turn of foot to give them both a headache in Saturday’s Group One sprint.
No-one was surprised that champion pacer Leap to Fame prevailed in the first qualifying sprint for the Miracle Mile, holding off Chase a Dream and the unlucky Don Hugo in a driving finish in a 1:48.6 mile.
The second sprint was just as exciting as Queensland’s next star pacer The Janitor (Peter McMullen) came from well back to grab Swayzee near the line, with Rakero Rocket third.
Swayzee had overcome a horror draw to race without cover and was only collared near the line with the winner rating 1:49.3 as the first two across the line secured their Miracle Mile berths.
It’s a dream result for prominent owner Mick Boots, who now has two of the favourites – Swayzee and Captains Mistress – in the big race.
Captains Mistress also rated 1:49.8 in her Chariots of Fire success, becoming just the third mare to win this Group One race.
Champion reinsman Cameron Hart now has decide which of Boots’ two stars he will drive in the big one.
“I cannot find enough words to praise Swayzee, he’s such a beast and I am so privileged to be driving horses like him and Captains Mistress in these big races,” Hart said.
“Naturally the barrier draws are so important in races like this, so I’ll have to think about it and discuss our chances with trainer Jason Grimson before we make any decisions.”
Grant Dixon was equally buoyant about Leap to Fame: “He felt super tonight and really lifted in the last 50 metres when the other horses started to come at him,” Dixon said.
“This horse has such a will-to-win. He really thinks he can get over the top of his rivals when it matters.”
The barrier draw has only made the race even more interesting with the addition of Luke McCarthy’s pair, the defending champion Don Hugo and New Zealand Cup winner Kingman.
Yet Don Hugo will need a touch of luck after drawing the outside barrier, leaving McCarthy also in a quandary as to which of his stable stars he will drive.
The final barrier draw for the 2026 Garrards Miracle Mile is:
- Speak The Truth (2nd em)
- Swayzee
- Kingman
- Captains Mistress
- Leap To Fame
- The Janitor
- Chase A Dream
- Bulletproof Boy
- Rakero Rocket (1st em)
- Don Hugo.
