Memory of another unique track work bid for Miracle Mile selection

AS THE industry awaits Lochinvar Art’s special work out at Club Menangle on Saturday night memory of another unique fast work has come to mind.

As a result of his late scratching from last Friday night’s Newcastle Mile due to injuring his hoof by standing on a nail, Lochinvar Art was destined to miss the famed Miracle Mile on March 6.

Under Harness Racing New South Wales rules, the David Moran-trained stallion cannot race for 10 days, which forces him out of this weekend’s Sprints.

The Newcastle Mile and Club Menangle features are a gateway into the Garrards Miracle Mile on March 6.

As far as the Sprints are concerned any pacer declared in the fields is eligible for the $1million Miracle Mile, but the same condition was not a part of the Newcastle Mile despite offering a guaranteed berth in the Grand Circuit gem to the winner.

To rectify the problem, and leave the door ajar for Lochinvar Art to contest Australasia’s ultimate speed test, Club Menangle sort and were granted permission to change the conditions to place the Newcastle Mile on equal status to the Sprints when it comes to Miracle Mile selection.

Selectors then invited Lochinvar Art to participate in a special work out in order to prove his fitness and impress them in order of gaining an invitation into the Group One.

This is not the first time selectors have requested a contender take part in a work out to book a Miracle Mile berth.

Seemingly on target to defend his title in 1994, Chokin’s Miracle Mile aspirations were in disarray after his shock failure in the New Zealand Cup.

A short priced favourite in the time honoured handicap, the six-year-old trailed home the field.

Trainer Barry Purdon was left scratching his head as his other two runners, Christopher Vance and Montana Vance, also finished tailed off.

Adding another chapter to the Chokin/Miracle Mile story, Purdon was given an ultimatum by Club Directors.

In order to receive a Miracle Mile invitation, Chokin had to trial to the satisfaction of Club President Keith Adams, which meant breaking 2:00 for a mile, with a smart last 800 metres.

It was the first time such a demand had been issued.

Chokin broke two minutes, with a last half in 57 seconds to seal his invite.

History shows Chokin was back to his best when he captured the Miracle Mile by accounting for Bee Bee Cee and Golden Reign.

The millionaire covered the mile in 1:56.2 – just six-tenths of a second outside Westburn Grant’s race record set in 1990.

Chokin’s win saw him become just the third dual Miracle Mile winner and the second to successfully defend his title.

Westburn Grant was victorious in 1989 and ’90, while Village Kid had his sequence broken by Master Mood in 1986.

Along with his two victories, Chokin’s Miracle Mile connection includes his appearance in 1991.

On that disastrous night, Chokin became the first, and remains the only, three-year-old to contest the 1609-metre sprint.

The biggest thing to hit harness racing on either side of the Tasman for a long time, the son of Vance Hanover had won 12 of his 13 starts, which saw Club Directors ‘break the mould’ by issuing an invitation to the Miracle Mile.

Many considered it suicidal to ask a raw and inexperienced three-year-old to take on older, more seasoned campaigners in a race like the Miracle Mile.

Basically, the thought was the giant gelding was being set up for failure, which was sadly proven correct.

As a result of his inexperience, Chokin became fired up by the large crowd, which saw him gallop at the start to trail the field by several lengths.

Over racing, Chokin gave reinsman Brian Gath no choice but to take him three-wide during the middle stages.

The ordeal took its toll, with Chokin collapsing with exhaustion on the home turn as his stablemate Christopher Vance raced to glory.

Returning in sensational form as a five-year-old, Chokin led throughout the 1993 Miracle Mile to stop the clock in two minutes – only the fifth time since 1967 the winner had failed to better the two-minute barrier!

As mentioned earlier, Chokin was triumphant the following year after some testing times ahead of the event.

Whether Lochinvar Art can following a similar path to Miracle Mile glory via a special work out only time will tell.