By Adam Hamilton
New Zealand won’t add to its proud 14 Miracle Mile wins this weekend.
There is no Kiwi-trained raider in Saturday night’s $1 million race, so the Kiwi focus will go to former talented young Canterbury horseman Jack Trainor.
Now firmly established as a major training force at Menangle, Trainor will have just his second Miracle Mile runner in former Kiwi mare Braeview Kelly.
Trainor’s first runner was Stylish Memphis two years ago when she ran sixth. As good as Stylish Memphis was in her prime, Trainor is sure Braeview Kelly is better placed this year.
“It’s not that she’s better than Stylish Memphis, but I think she’s just as good as she’s had a better preparation,” he said.
“Stylish Memphis had more sheer speed, but Braeview Kelly is tougher and a bit more versatile.
“When Stylish Memphis ran, it was her fifth run in as many weeks. She’d come through the Chariots Of Fire and the Ladyship Mile.
“Add to that the fact she was really out of the race before it even started when she drew the outside. She went well considering, but I think Braeview Kelly has more in her favour this week.”
Despite Trainor’s enthusiasm, Braeview Kelly is the $41 outsider from barrier six (she’ll start from five if the emergencies come out).
“She’ll be very competitive. They won’t drop her off,” he said. “I know this is a big step-up and it’s a really strong field, but I think she’ll be right there at the finish with any luck.
“Can she win? It’s a big ask, but it wouldn’t totally shock me. I need a Baby Bling situation from a few years back when everything went right and she was good enough to take advantage of it.”
Braeview Kelly is trying to become just the fourth mare since the Miracle Mile started in 1968 to win the great race.
Kiwi star Robin Dundee was the first back in year one, then came Norms Daughter in 1996 and Baby Bling in 2013.
Unlike Stylish Memphis two years ago, Trainor won’t be aboard Braeview Kelly in the Mile.
“I’m very happy watching from the sidelines and leaving the driving to Cam (Hart),” he said. “The way I see it, if he was good enough to qualify her for the race last week, he should stay on her.
“She was huge winning last week. I thought she’d be very hard to beat, but even I was pleasantly surprised she was able to sit three-wide and do that much early work and still be so strong at the finish.
“It’s exciting just to have a runner, especially one at the top of her game.”
