Miracle Mile winner Lennytheshark should add to his booty of features wins in Saturday night’s $70,000 Group 2 Kilmore Cup (2690m).
David Aiken’s star already looked a class above his rivals, but has the added advantage of a perfect barrier (gate three).
“He’s come through the Miracle Mile well,” Aiken said. “As I said a few days after it, he was so well he could’ve run in the Cranbourne Cup six days after the Miracle Mile, but we didn’t want to ask that of him.
“Kilmore fitted plans well and we’re heading there with him in peak form.”
Lennytheshark will dominate betting and looks a big a chance of finding the front, either from Major Crocker (gate two) or noted fast beginner Tact Tate (seven) should he try and spear to the lead early.
The other key runners in the Cup include Flaming Flutter (gate four), My Kiwi Mate (six) and Im Corzin Terror (11).
Aiken said he had no firm plans with Lennytheshark beyond this week.
“He will stay in work. He’s only had a light season so far,” he said. “Eventually he will make his way back to Sydney, but I don’t know when that will be.”
In some exciting news, Aiken revealed his other open-class star Hectorjayjay had escaped surgery and would soon be back racing.
“We thought he needed a little procedure to remove a bone spur, but when they took a better x-ray and looked at it, they told us it wouldn’t be necessary,” he said,
“That’s good news. He could be back racing in a month or so.”
In a coup for the Harness Jewels, Aiken said he and owner Brendan James were seriously considering a trip across the Tasman with exciting four-year-old mare Rockstar Angel.
“Brendan called me and he’s keen. If he’s keen, then I’m keen,” Aiken said.
“We’ve got a really nice opinion of the mare.
“Initially I was a bit disappointed when she finished second after leading in the Wangaratta Cup last Sunday, but they told me the inside was quicksand and the winner, Four Ex Dan, is a nice horse.”
Another possible Aussie contender for the Jewels, star three-year-old filly Petacular, is a $1.15 Aussie TAB favourite for the Allied Express 3YO Classic (2240m) at Melton on Friday night.
Petacular hasn’t raced since a brave second to unbeaten Kiwi filly Partyon in the NSW Oaks on February 25.
Other possible Aussie raiders for the Jewels include Shane and Lauren Tritton’s buzz juveniles, Divine State and My Sweetchilliphilly, who tackle heats of their respective Bathurst Gold series’ this week.
The Trittons will talk more seriously about the Jewels after the Bathurst finals on Saturday week.
Adam Hamilton