by Adam Hamilton
The Kiwi connections in this Miracle Mile know they are in the lap of the gods.
Bad barriers for Stylish Memphis (gate 10, will come into eight) and Wolf Stride (seven, will come into six) mean their chances hinges on the tactics of others and how the race is run.
Stylish Memphis, backing-up for the fifth consecutive Saturday night at Menangle, still has another “big one” in her, according to caretaker trainer and driver Jack Trainor.
“It’s incredible really. All the signs are great. She seems at least as well as she was last week,” Trainor said. “She’s a typical Bettors Delight and is just thriving on the racing.
“The draw makes it tough. She’s really had no luck with draws in the big ones.
“King Of Swing is a great horse and the one to beat. We’ll certainly need a few others to take it to him early to have any hope of getting into the finish.”
Wolf Stride’s co-trainer and driver Anthony Butt thinks the same way.
“I’ve got a horse good enough, but this reminds of when My Field Marshal won three years back … our chances hinge on what others do in the first half of the race, especially at the start,” he said.
“Things fell into place for My Field Marshal and he won. This guy can win if the same thing happens.
“He’s come so far, so quickly. I thought last week was as good as he’s ever gone. It’s so hard to give that sort of start away to quality opposition and run them down at Menangle, but he hit the line so strongly.
“He keeps answering every challenge as we raise the bar, but this is another level up again.”
Butt thinks Tassie raider Ignatius holds the key to the race from gate two.
“All of us trying to beat King Of Swing need Jimmy (Rattray) to find the front and hold it, to keep King Of Swing out,” he said.
“He’s been saying that’s his plan and let’s hope he gets to the front. It should make for a great race if he does.
“If King Of Swing gets across to the front, it’s hard to see anything beating him.”
