28 February 2023 | HRNSW MEDIA | MICHAEL COURT
LEADING Victorian reinsman David Moran is driving the favourite, Honolua Bay in Saturday night’s $1m Garrards Miracle Mile.
And while he wouldn’t swap that drive for anything in the race, Moran believes this is one of the most open Miles on record, with every runner a genuine chance of capturing the great race.
Honolua Bay rated a slashing 1:49.3 mile on Saturday night to earn his place in the field this weekend, giving trainer Emma Stewart an unprecedented four of the eight runners in the race.
“The way Saturday night’s race was run suited my horse down to the ground,” said Moran.
“Over a mile, I’m certainly positive he can also do his fair share of work this weekend, that’s for sure.”
Drawn gate four on Saturday and moving into three when the emergencies come out, Moran appears resigned to the face he won’t be able to cross Saturday night’s Schweppes Sprint winner Spirit of St Louis, drawn inside him, when the mobile lets them go.
“Spirit Of St Louis and Mach Dan are probably the quickest horses off the front row and we probably won’t get involved to that degree,” he said.
“But I think we will need to drive Honolua Bay more forward with how the race is likely to be run, that’s for sure.”
And while harness fans love discussing how these big races will be run, Moran is certain the fans will be the real winners.
“It will be a great spectacle, that’s for sure,” he said.
“Horses like Mach Dan are going to burn the arm, so that first quarter will play a massive part in where we want to be in the running,” he said.
Moran is a cool customer who takes all the hype in his stride.
“You can’t change it before or after, so you go into the race with an open mindset and when the green light goes on it usually goes out the door anyway,” he said.
“So we’ll just take it as we go.”
Moran feels the barrier draw (nine but comes into seven) will actually suit Stewart’s boom Victorian four-year-old Captain Ravishing.
“I know he’s going to be a fair way back but they don’t have to use him up early,” he said.
“I expect there will be plenty of mid-race pressure from horses like Expensive Ego wanting to get forward in a hurry.
“This might be one of the best Miracle Miles we’ve seen for a fair while.”
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