Who will start favourite in the Group 1 Len Smith Mile at Menangle on June 25?
Most thought it would be reigning Miracle Mile champ Lennytheshark, but that changed after David Aiken’s megastar was rundown after having a relatively soft trip in the lead in last night’s Group 3 Golden Mile at Menangle.
It looked easy going for those who took the skinny $1.20 when Lennytheshark worked across to take the lead from the speedy Mach Doro in a cosy 27.5sec first split then cruised through a 30.2sec second split.
Without anyone applying pressure, driver Chris Alford was still able to go through a comfy 28.1sec third split and most expected he would zip away at the top of the home straight.
Instead, Lenny started to wobble when Alford asked him to “ping” and challengers appeared from all angles.
First it was Mach Doro, who came off his back and then came Tiger Tara with a withering sprint down the outside.
In a huge shock, both zipped past Lennytheshark and just when it seemed Mach Doro would win, Tiger Tara put in a dive to snatch victory by a whisker.
They ran the mile in 1min52.6sec which, for comparison, was the same time they ran when Ignatius ran down Sicario in a semi-final of the 2YO NSW Breeders Challenge.
If Lenny has been vulnerable in the past it has been to those with superior zip … remember his stablemate Hectorjayjay outsprinting him in last year’s Len Smith Mile?
Many felt Alford drove Lennytheshark too conservatively in the Golden Mile. By nursing him and turning it into a sprint home, it left him vulnerable to those with superior high speed.
Lennytheshark is fast, but more in a sustained, high-rolling sort of way than a “click your fingers” acceleration.
When they met in the Buli Cup a few weeks back, Tiger Tara tried to go toe-to-toe with Lennytheshark and found it impossible, but this time stalking him and dive-bombing late proved more successful.
Still, Tiger Tara deserves enormous credit considering he came from midfield with a three-wide run and was privately clocked to run his last half in 53.9sec.
The other eye-catching run came from rejuvenated Kiwi pacer My Field Marshall, who was buried three pegs from the pole and had little clear racing room late when a close fourth, just 3.3m from Tiger Tara.
While all that unfolded at Menangle, Lennytheshark’s stablemate and defending Len Smith champ Hectorjayjay was sitting in his stall back in Victoria after a sparkling first-up Melton win 24 hours earlier.
Hectorjayjay humbled a much easier field than the Golden Mile line-up when he used his renowned early brilliance to zip to the front from gate six and run home in 55.0 and 26.7sec at the end of a 1min53.2sec mile rate for 1720m.
Barrier draws are crucial in all races, but they become absolutely fascinating for Hectorjayjay in this Len Smith Mile.
As much as his gate speed is a lethal weapon, it is his ability to come from off the speed in electrifying closing splits which might be even more important on June 25.
He was blasted out from a wide draw in the Miracle Mile and simply couldn’t keep going so it’s likely connections will opt to snag him and drive with a sit if he draws wide again in the Len Smith.
However the draw unfolds, it’s a real treat in the middle of winter to have some of the best horses in this part of the world locking horns.
Right now my money would be on Hectorjayjay
Adam Hamilton