Bennett confident of a miracle with tough old Mick
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday November 23, 2009
PREMIER NSW reinsman Greg Bennett is not conceding anything to the superstars as he prepares for his first Miracle Mile drive behind Karloo Mick at Menangle on Sunday.The nine-year-old broke through the $1 million barrier with his win in the Cordina Chicken Farms Sprint on Friday, which earned him a spot in the elite eight-horse field.However, he is still searching for his first group 1 win and is a $13 chance to do it on Sunday.Karloo Mick, something of a throwback to the roots of harness racing, is trained by Barry Lew on his property at Dubbo and will be the sentimental favourite. But Bennett pointed out Karloo Mick had met and beaten the best, including $3 million buy Auckland Reactor, which is $3.25 favourite with TAB Sportsbet, and triple InterDominion winner Blacks A Fake, over the sprint trip in the past year."Barry has done a great job with this horse and I have promised him I will win him a group 1, and the Miracle Mile would be a great place for it to come," Bennett said."Everyone talks about how tough Karloo Mick is, but he beat Auckland Reactor over a mile in the InterDominion heats and this year he went up and beat Blacks A Fake in the Sunshine Sprint. That's not bad for a tough old stayer is it?"The laid-back nature of the Karloo Mick camp seems to fit well with Bennett, who has been the top driver in NSW for the past decade.The 38-year-old picked up his second Harold Park Medal, which he shared with Cameron Fitzpatrick, at the barrier draw on Saturday night to start the week on the right foot and then was happy with the draw of gate five as Auckland Reactor and Blacks A Fake drew seven and eight respectively."We are there in the middle and he should be able to get the right run," he said. "It's not the worst draw and not the best but with the two big names out wide it makes it interesting. The one thing about this horse is he always runs a good race no matter what it is."Former US pacer Lonestar Legend, a controversial inclusion, drew the pole, with Kiwi Ingenuity and Menangle mile record-holder Smoken Up on his immediate outside, which should ensure the speed will be on from the time the arms fold back on the mobile. Second favourite Monkey King drew gate four, while last year's runner-up Melpark Major is in six.There are predictions the 1 minute 51.9 second record could be lowered by more than two seconds, with the field considered the best in Miracle Mile history.TAB Sportsbet has laid Blacks A Fake to lose more than $75,000 since the barrier draw despite the champion's outside gate. "He got out to $11 after the draw but is now $8 as the punters only want to back him and Melpark Major at the moment," TAB Sportsbet's Glenn Munsie said.MIRACLE MILE FIELDRun at Menangle, Sunday1. Lonestar Legend $412. Kiwi Ingenuity $6.503. Smoken Up $4.504. Monkey King $45. Karloo Mick $136. Melpark Major $6.507. Auckland Reactor $3.258. Blacks A Fake $89. Washakie (2nd res) $7110. Cant Bluff Me (1st res) $51Prices: TAB Sportsbet
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald
Share This