Leap To Fame winning the 2024 Miracle Mile
RECENT history says getting the speed map right for this $1 million Miracle Mile will go a long way towards finding you the winner.
Remarkably, six of the past seven winners have led, including Don Hugo last year.
The only “rule-breaker” in that time was the great Leap To Fame, when he sat outside the leader and ran down Speak The Truth, who held on to finish third.
So, the last winner to come from further back than second in running was My Field Marshal in 2018. He was one-out, two-back (of fifth).
What’s significant about his win is the blistering time they went – an Australasian record 1min46.9sec mile – which set the race up for a swooper.
The year before, former Victorian great Lennytheshark sat in the “death” and won.
That’s eight of the past nine winners who have been in the first two un running.
Go back another year and Have Faith In Me, like My Field Marshal, came from one-out, two back to snatch victory on the line.
Again, like My Field Marshal’s year, the time was scorching.
Have Faith In Me’s 1min47.5sec mile wasan Australasian record until My Field Marshal broke it.
What’s clear is, for a swooper to win, they need to smash the clock as has happened for the only two swoopers in the past decade.
Given the amazing depth of talent in Saturday night’s race, there is genuine chance they will push the Australasian record.
On paper, that gives hope to those who will race off the pace.
But what we’ve seen in the majority of races where Swayzee and Leap To Fame have locked horns, despite how hard they go, they still fight out the finish.
Cam Hart opted to drive Swayzee ahead of Captains Mistress because he thinks Swayzee can lead. He would know what history says.
No wonder Swayzee has been backed in from $12 to $4.60 since Hart said he was confident he would lead.
That sets up an all too familiar scenario where Swayzee is in front and Leap To Fame is parked outside him.
It’s the strongest field either pacer has been in. They’ll have Kingman (likely behind the leader) and Captains Mistress (likely one-one sit) stalking.
Could Swayzee and Leap To Fame undo each other this time?
Or will the brutes of the sport for the past three years flex their muscle and fight it out again?
What a mouthwatering contest awaits.
PHOTO: Leap To Fame winning 2024 Miracle Mile - Club Menangle/Pacepix
