Local target before ambitious interstate mission
FORMER Kiwi pacer Cranbourne will have his final hit out before embarking on an ambitious campaign this weekend.
Planning to head north with the son of Lincoln Royal in search of a Miracle Mile, berth trainer David Aiken has Cranbourne engaged in a free-for-all at Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday night.
Should all go according to plan, Cranbourne will then contest one of two Miracle Mile qualifying sprints at Club Menangle on February 25.
The first two placegetters in each $100,000 sprint gain entry to the $1million Garrards Miracle Mile on March 4.
Aiken is no stranger to Miracle Mile glory, having captured Australasia's premier sprint with Lennytheshark in 2017.
"He's a pretty nice horse and has shown he can be competitive against that level when he won the Shepparton Cup,"Aiken said.
"His work this week has been super, and everything being as it is, we will head up to Menangle next week."
Fresh from his success in The Pure Steel, Cranbourne will begin from the inside of the second row over 2240 metres.
To be driven by Nathan Jack, the six-year-old is the $2.80 TAB Fixed Odds favourite, with Supreme Dominator considered the biggest threat at $3.70 from barrier five.
"It's not an ideal draw, but he was always going to draw out back or wide given the preferential conditions," Aiken said.
