Star Tasmanian harness racing pacer Beautide has firmed as favourite to win his second Miracle Mile after the James Rattray-trained gelding drew gate three for the $750,000 Group 1 race at Tabcorp Park Menangle on Sunday.
Beautide spent about a year recovering from a leg injury but he proved he was back to his best by winning a Coca-Cola Sprint at Menangle two weeks ago.
UBET has Beautide favourite at $2.60 but only slightly ahead of recent Inter Dominion winner Lennytheshark ($2.80) and the highly promising four-year-old Have Faith In Me ($3).
"I am really happy with his draw because coming out of three we only have the pole marker (Arms of an Angel) and Lennytheshark directly outside of us to contend with early," Rattray said.
"Beau has done really well since his Coca-Cola Sprint win so if we can find the front then he's a good chance of winning his second Miracle Mile."
Beautide is unbeaten from three starts this preparation and he is contesting his third Miracle Mile having won at his first attempt in 2013, he was second to Christen Me the following year and the race was not held last year.
This year's event is packed full of quality with the reigning Inter Dominion winner in it along with boom four-year-old Have Faith In Me who recorded a mile rate of 1.48.8 in winning the Chariots of Fire (1609m) at his most recent outing.
Beautide clocked a mile rate of 1.50.7 on the same day in winning his Coca-Cola Sprint to secure his Miracle Mile berth.
"Have Faith In Me's mile rate was excellent in winning his race but Beau wasn't pushed right out to win his race and there is improvement in him," Rattray said.
The Miracle Mile is race seven on the card and is scheduled to start at 4.30 pm.
Peter Staples