27 February 2019 | MICHAEL GUERIN
AUSTRALIA’S fastest ever miler may have an unusual problem in Saturday’s $1million Ainsworth Miracle Mile.
Because trainer Tim Butt believes the field of hotshots may not go fast enough to suit his defending champion My Field Marshal.
My Field Marshal came from near last to win a supersonic Miracle Mile last year in an Australasian record 1:46.9, in the 10 fastest miles in the history of harness racing.
But while Saturday’s field contains local hero Tiger Tara, New Zealand Cup winner Thefixer and new superstar Poster Boy, Butt is worried the race time could be up to two seconds slower than last year.
And that could leave My Field Marshal struggling when the sprint goes on.
“Our horse is a great stayer who loves it when they go the first half (800m) in 54 seconds and he just keeps going,” says Butt.
“But I don’t see it being that sort of mile this time. I think the front line is pretty even on gate speed so the inside ones should be able to hold their spots without too much pressure.
“So without that sub-26 opening 400m the horses who settle back can be in trouble and that could be us.
“I am not saying he can’t win but from barrier eight we are going to need to some pressure early and in the middle stages and I am not sure where that is going to come from.”
Punters and bookies agree with Butt with the expected move in the TAB market coming for Thefixer, who opened $3.80 after drawing barrier two but is now the $3.50 favourite, with Poster Boy out from $3.60 to $3.90.
That comes as the scenario of Thefixer leading with Poster Boy on his back and Tiger Tara having to do the bullying sitting parked becomes the conventional wisdom about Saturday’s great race.
Harness Racing NSW (HRNSW) is the controlling body for harness racing in New South Wales with responsibility for commercial and regulatory management of the industry including 33 racing clubs across the State. HRNSW is headed by a Board of Directors and is independent of Government.
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