AUSTRALIAN Pacing Gold purchase Captain Ravishing will create history if he captures Saturday night’s Miracle Mile at Club Menangle.
Given a ‘wildcard’ entry into the $1million Garrards-sponsored event, Captain Ravishing has only had 14 starts leading into Group One, with his most recent outing resulting in a second behind Catch A Wave – also an APG buy – in the Chariots Of Fire a fortnight ago.
Success in the Grand Circuit event will make the Emma Stewart-trained entire the lightest raced Miracle Mile winner, placing the boom pacer ahead of some illustrious company.
For the record, Captain Ravishing’s tally sits on nine wins and two seconds, with seven on his victories and one of the seconds coming under Stewart’s care.
Captain Ravishing was previously prepared by Ahmed Taiba, brother of owner Hass Taiba.
As for the current lightest-raced Miracle Mile champion, that crown belongs to the mighty Westburn Grant, which stunned Australasia’s best with his 1989 triumph around Harold Park.
Trained and driven by Vic Frost to cover the 1609-metre sprint in 1:57.9, Westburn Grant secured the southern hemisphere’s ultimate speed test at his 17th start, taking his total to 15 wins, a second and a third.
Westburn Grant claimed the mantle from Mount Eden, which blitzed his rivals in 1971 for Jack Miles.
Mount Eden achieved a feat deemed never to be repeated by winning at his 19th start for a record of 13 wins, a second and a third.
Honourable mentions go to Christian Cullen and Have Faith In Me, which scored in 1998 and 2016 at their 21st start.
Like Captain Ravishing, the quartet were four-year-olds at the time of their Miracle Mile wins.
Unfortunately for Captain Ravishing, his prospects of re-writing the record books took a blow in the barrier draw, with the son of Captaintreacherous receiving gate nine.
Although Captain Ravishing slots into seven with the removal of the emergencies, no Miracle Mile winner has come from wider than six.
Spankem carried number seven to glory in 2019, but began from six once the emergencies were taken out of the equation.
“Records were made to be broken,” Stewart said. “As you pointed out, they said at the time Mount Eden’s win after 19 starts would never be done again.
“As for the draw, well it’s the same scenario…it hasn’t been done until it has!
“All I can say is we’re happy with him going into it and have no doubt he can win regardless of the draw and stats.”
HOOFNOTE: Captain Ravishing and Catch A Wave will be joined in the Miracle Mile by fellow APG graduates, Expensive Ego and Mach Dan, meaning APG stock equals half the elite field.
Please remember, to support the APG Perth Sale this weekend.
This is your invitation to be at the Magic Millions Sales Complex, 2/56 Dale Road, Middle Swan, WA on March 5.
For all your Bloodstock enquiries including the full draft of 130 Lots , please contact Dean Baring on 0459 215 333
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