Inter Dominion Finals Tips - pacing and trotting finals previewed
Menangle Harness Tips March 7
Menangle (New South Wales Harness Racing Club)
The Group 1 Miracle Mile (1609m) is the feature race at Menangle on Saturday night.
Four Group 1 events will be run at Menangle and here are my best bets for the meeting.
Race 5 – APG NSW DERBY (2400m) – 8:23pm
Three heats of the NSW Derby were run last week with Perfect Stride, Pacifico Dream and Governor Jujon winning their respective heats.
The horse that I like raced in the second heat and finished second, beaten 1.6m by Pacifico Dream. Line Up is prepared and driven by Anthony Butt and was forced to race outside of the leader. It was a 26.7 and 26.6 dash home and Line Up stuck on strongly.
Line Up is the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2240m) winner defeating Governor Jujon and Perfect Stride. He looks a strong chance to claim the Victoria Derby-NSW Derby double.
Governor Jujon is the obvious danger but there are a few chances in the race outside of the leading pair. Each heat winner has winning claims along with Mach Dan. Blowout chance to Percy Bailey from the inside draw.
Race 6 – PLATINUM PROJEX FFA (2400m) – 8:50pm
It is a wide-open race with Our Uncle Sam the favourite at $3.70. He has drawn well in barrier two following a last start seventh in the Group 1 Schweppes Sprint (1609m) won by Alta Orlando.
The Paul Court-trained five-year-old entire Hail Christian is racing in excellent form. He narrowly missed a Miracle Mile start with a second in the Group 1 Newcastle Mile (1609m) and fourth in the Schweppes Sprint.
Hail Christian will be racing back in the field which can be concerning in harness racing as tempo is going to dictate his chances. His current form is too strong to ignore and he is my top pick in a competitive race.
There is a stack of other hopes in the race but the 2400m can help offset the poor draw a little bit.
Race 7 – AINSWORTH MIRACLE MILE (1609m) – 9:26pm
The biggest mile race in Australia is not easy to assess with six runners in single figures. King Of Swing won the Group 1 Allied Express Sprint (1609m) last week in 1:49.6. He is unlikely to hold Majordan at the start and the question will be whether he can find the pegs in order to trail him.
Majordan is going to have to spend some early energy in order to find his favourite position out in front. Barrier eight in a Miracle Mile is tough and being used off the gate makes it that much harder.
Four-year-old entire Lochinvar Art has been impressive over sprint distances with a 1:48.6 victory at Melton in the Group 1 4YO Bonanza (1720m) followed by the Group 1 Chariots Of Fire (1609m) in 1:50.1 when racing outside the leader.
Barrier seven for the Miracle Mile is far from ideal but this horse could be something special and he may have the ability and speed to charge down the outside in the home straight to win. It is either that or make a move forward looking from the breeze.
Lochinvar Art is my tip but I do not have a great deal of confidence.
Former winner My Field Marshal comes up with a good draw and can be dangerous late.
King Of Swing is an obvious chance as is Code Bailey who sat outside that horse for a narrow defeat. He has strong claims too.
Alta Orlando has won three of his past four starts and looms as a contender too.
