Who do the Miracle Mile stats favour?

SINCE its inception, the Miracle Mile has become the event that captures the imagination – and opinion – of harness racing.

Developed in 1967, the Group One was designed with a single mission in mind…creating a ‘miracle’.

To be more precise, the dream was to see the two-minute barrier broken for the first time under race conditions in Australia.

To everyone’s delight, New Zealand wonder mare Robin Dundee achieved the feat during the inaugural running, stopping the clock in 1:59.

This year enthusiasts are hoping to see another miracle, with the dream being a serious assault on the world record 1:45.4.

At minimum, the 1:46.9 Australasian record – set in the 2018 Miracle Mile - is expected to tumble given the speed of the elite eight-horse field.

As for the numbers, five-year-olds have been the most successful, with Kingman, The Janitor and Chase A Dream fitting into that category this year.

Add the barriers into the equation and the odds lean in favour of The Janitor.

Although barrier four leads the way with 13 wins, gate five comes next with 11.

Officially drawn six, The Janitor slots into five with the removal of the emergencies.

Speaking of odds, favourites have been beaten more times than they've been triumphant, with The Janitor midfield at $6.50 with TAB Fixed odds.

Runner-up as the favourite last season, Leap To Fame heads the market once again at $2.30 from barrier five.

Leap To Fame moves into gate four once the emergencies are taken out of the equation.

As we countdown to Saturday night’s $1million Grand Circuit gem at Club Menangle, here are some statistics on the race which has become the ultimate speed test on this side of the equator.

SEX OF WINNERS:
3 Mares – (Robin Dundee, 1967 – Norms Daughter, June 1996 – Baby Bling, April 2013)
28 Stallions – (Last winner – Don Hugo, 2025)
27 Geldings – (Last winner – Catch A Wave, 2023)

AGES OF WINNERS:
4-Y-O – 8
5-Y-O – 21
6-Y-O – 13
7-Y-O – 9
8-Y-O – 5
9-Y-O – 1
12-Y-O – 1

SUCCESSFUL BARRIERS:
1 – 11 (Last winner, King Of Swing – 2022)
2 – 10 (Last winner, Be Good Johnny – 2005)
3 – 7 (Last winner, Don Hugo – 2025)
4 – 13 (Last winner, King Of Swing – 2020)
5 – 11 (Last winner, Catch A Wave – 2023)
6 – 4 (Last winner, Double Identity – 2002)
7 – 1 (Last winner, Spankem – 2019)
8 – 0
9 - 1 (Last winner, Leap To Fame - 2024

FIVE FASTEST WINNERS:
My Field Marshal (2018) – 1:46.9
Have Faith In Me (2016) – 1:47.5
Spankem (2019) – 1:47.7
King Of Swing (2020) – 1:48
Leap To Fame (2024) - 1:48.3

FIVE SLOWEST WINNERS:
The Scotsman (1979) – 2:00.7
Bay Foyle (1972) – 2:00.6
Pure Steel (1978) and Locarno (1980) – 2:00.4
Chokin (1993) – 2:00

CONSECUTIVE WINNERS:
Westburn Grant (1989 and ‘90)
Chokin (1993 and ‘94)
Holmes D G (1999 and 2000)
Sokyola (2003 and ‘04)
Be Good Johnny (2005 and ‘06)
Smoken Up (2010 and ‘11)
King Of Swing (2020, '21 and '22)

MOST APPEARANCES:
Paleface Adios – 7
1974 – 2nd (Hondo Grattan 1)
1975 – 5th (Young Quinn 1)
1976 – 1st (Don’t Retreat 2, Hondo Grattan 3)
1977 – 2nd (Royal Force 2)
1978 – 2nd (Pure Steel 1)
1979 – 2nd (The Scotsman 1)
1980 – 3rd (Locarno 1, Pure Steel 2)

WHERE WINNERS TRAINED:
New South Wales – 19 (Last winner, Don Hugo – 2025)
New Zealand – 15 (Last winner, Spankem – 2019)
Western Australia – 7 (Last winner, Norms Daughter – June 1996)
Victoria – 12 (Last winner, Catch A Wave – 2023)
Queensland – 4 (Last winner, Leap To Fame – 2024)
Tasmania – 1 (Last winner, Halwes – 1968)

FAVOURITES:
24 Successful – 34 Unsuccessful

BEATEN AT SHORT ODDS:
Preux Chevalier – 8/11 – Last in 1984
Village Kid – 4/9 – 3rd in December 1986
Il Vicolo – 4/5 – 2nd in June 1996
Iraklis – 9/10 – 3rd in 1997
Blacks A Fake – 4/7 – 5th in 2008
Excel Stride – 5/4 – 4th in April 2013
Beautide – 9/4 – 2nd in November 2014

MOST SUCCESSFUL TRAINERS:
Barry Purdon – Christopher Vance (1991), Chokin (1993 and ‘94) and Holmes DG (1999 and 2000)
Lance Justice – Sokyola (2003 and ‘04) and Smoken Up (2010 and ‘11)

MOST SUCCESSFUL DRIVERS:
Luke McCarthy - King Of Swing (2020, '21 and '22), Don Hugo (2025)
Vic Frost – Lucky Creed (1970), Westburn Grant (1989 and ‘90)
Tony Herlihy – Christopher Vance (1991), Chokin (1993 and ‘94)
Lance Justice – Sokyola (2003), Smoken Up (2010 and ‘11)