By Adam Hamilton
Australia’s fastest pacer Hectorjyayjay is primed to smash the clock.
Driver Josh Aiken just hopes that’s quick enough to win Saturday night’s Miracle Mile.
Aiken has cast aside the initial disappointment of yet another bad barrier to focus on the main positive – Hectorjayjay is as good as he can possibly be for the most suitable feature race on the calendar for him.
“Of course we’d have loved a better draw, but it is what it is and at least he’s off the front row this time so he can use his gate speed,” Aiken said.
“I don’t think it’s a given he’s the leader, but if the form plays out like last week, Yayas Hot Spot should be across those inside really quickly and I’ll come across with him.
“Hector did get off the gate really quickly last week and he’s shown before he can muster lots of speed from those wider draws.”
Aiken was thrilled with Hectorjayjay’s qualifying win last week and said the fact it was really just a 400m dash home actually suited his preparation.
“He had a hard run in the Victoria Cup after finding the early trouble so we spent a lot of time freshening him up after that. It meant he needed the run last week,” he said.
“I know it was a $100,000 Group 1 race last week, but we were all so focused on this week it felt like a heat and so it was about get as easy a run as possible, which is why I drove him so conservatively and was happy to let it be a dash down the home straight.
“If I find the front this week it will be different, not just for me, but for everyone else. You can sure there won’t be any slow quarters.
“But Hector is ready now. That run topped him off. I think he can get down to that 1min47sec zone and I base that on the fact he’s gone 1min51sec for the sprint trip at Melton and 1min53sec around Gloucester Park. Menangle is so much quicker.
“If I find the front, I know I have to make those away from the markers really work hard, especially around that final bend.
“This has always been the race we’ve thought best suits him of all the really big races and we’ve got him right where we want for it.”
Hectorjayjay remains a $3.80 second favourite on the Aussie TAB behind Lazarus at $2.60. Next come Bling It On and Lennytheshark at $6 and Smolda at $6.50.
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