Mick Harvey and Luke McCarthy after winning the 2025 New Zealand Cup
THE Miracle Mile was a mixed bag for champion horseman Luke McCarthy.
While he was thrilled with defending champion Don Hugo’s third placing, Kingman ran way below his best.
It means Kingman is out of the $NZ1 million Race by betcha at Cambridge next month.
The one-time favourite for NZ’s equal richest race sat behind the leader, Swayzee, and laboured into sixth place in the Miracle Mile.
It followed a below par run when a tiring ninth after leading in his Miracle Mile qualifier a week earlier.
Owner-breeder Mick Harvey confirmed Kingman would have a break.
“That (huge) Hunter Cup run took its toll on him,” he said. “When Swayzee was losing ground (in the Miracle Mile), he (Kingman) would normally go straight past him, but he is a tired boy,” he said. “He’s going for a break or freshen-up.”
Kingman, who beat Leap To Fame in the Victoria and NZ Cups late last year, had a busy and at times dramatic January/February.
It started on the way to the Cranbourne Cup when the float Kingman was in caught fire, forcing his evacuation and a stint standing on the side of the highway before getting to Cranbourne and running second to Leap To Fame.
Two weeks later he was badly checked soon after the start and lost all chance in the Hunter Cup.
His performance to recover and finish a close sixth to Swayzee and Leap To Fame was monstrous.
“He’s just a horse, he can have a good spell now,” trainer Luke McCarthy confirmed.
In contrast, Don Hugo looks right on target for a Perth raid next month.
“He got a good run from a bad draw and ran a terrific race,” he said. “Leap To Fame is just an out-and-out champion.”
Don Hugo’s focus now switches to the $1.25mil Group 1 Nullarbor at Gloucester Park on April 17.
“I'm going to keep him fresh for Perth. He won’t run before it,” McCarthy said. “He’s done that before and gone really well.”
Don Hugo is the $2.50 favourite for the Nullarbor.
PHOTO: HRNZ/Race Images NZ
