12 March 2026
A mix of established stars and rising talents makes for an intriguing Miracle Mile at Menangle on Saturday night where boom mare Captains Mistress will tackle champion pacers Leap To Fame and Swayzee for the first time.
The country's two most exciting trotters - Keayang Zahara and Gus – face off in the Hammerhead Mile while boom colt Hollywood Strip will have to overcome the outside barrier if he is to maintain his unbeaten record in the NSW Derby.
Race-by-race preview of Menangle, Saturday March 14
Race 1: BUBBA GUMP PEST CONTROL FFA
KINGMAKER (11) kicked off his campaign with three placings including a second to topliner Don Hugo two back before breaking through last week, working to find the front and going on to score by 1.6m at this circuit and distance. The outside barrier poses a tougher challenge but he is going well. STENO (4) has had four weeks off since she was down the track at Group 1 level last time but has won a trial here since and had kicked off her campaign with a G3 win so is capable of much better. THE ANSWER (3) came from the outside barrier for a resuming second before digging deep to win last time, taking her strike rate at this circuit and distance to 50 per cent. The low draw sees her right in contention again. HELLUVA (7) has tackled Miracle Mile qualifiers in both outings since his fifth in the Hunter Cup so is better placed. FORTY LOVE (1) was quite consistent before the last attempt and gets the ace draw again so improvement would not surprise.
Race 2: LIVAMOL PACE
DOUBLE LOU (4) comes off a luckless fifth in the Chariots of Fire when held up on the pegs. Had won three of his other four attempts at this circuit and distance this time in including a Hondo Grattan victory from a wider barrier two back. Can bounce back. HESITATE (8) drew wide and raced three wide in the Chariots of Fire so did a good job to beat Double Lou home. Had kicked off his campaign with a G3 win from the back row at Melton prior. Big danger. NERANO (10) draws deep but was good in his return to the Grimson yard, racing three wide without cover but sticking on for second. That was his first hitout for seven weeks so it should have improved him. There was plenty of merit in the latest performance of RIPP (6) when he drew wider and covered ground for third, 1.6m behind Nerano. Must respect. DARIN (9) draws out so may need some luck but his form reads well.
Race 3: MULTIQUIP AGGREGATES LIGHT HORSE FFA (GROUP 2)
SPEAK THE TRUTH (2) was good from this barrier when fourth Leap To Fame in a Miracle of Mile qualifier last week. Had strong form in Brisbane prior, putting three wins together before heading south. Three-time winner at this circuit and distance along with a Miracle Mile placing and he draws to enjoy the favours. RAKERO ROCKET (4) has placed in Miracle Mile qualifiers in his last two outings, beaten 1.5m in the Newcastle Mile and just over 2m here last week. Scored back-to-back wins at this circuit and distance prior, one at Listed level and the other in very slick time. That form would go close to winning this. HI MANAMEISJEFF (7) led and faded to midfield last week but had won 10 of his other 13 attempts at this circuit and distance so deserves another chance. WAR DAN BUDDY (6) drew wider last week and was finding the line well before he was held up late. Another building a handy mile record. Tough draw for Chariots of Fire runner-up FINAL DEADLINE (12) but the form reads well.
Race 4: ULTRA AIR J L RAITH MEMORIAL (GROUP 3)
RIPPLES (8) led from one spot wider than this in a resuming win at this circuit and distance two back before chasing a smart mare as runner-up last start. Better off back against the fillies and should be nearing her peak third up. SPARKLING SEA (10) was too good in her resuming win at Wagga, drawing on the back row and racing three wide without cover before scoring easily. Draws out but came from this barrier to win at this circuit and distance twice last campaign and was runner up in a Group 1 the only time she has been beaten here. Can threaten. HAVTIMETODREAM (6) has won her three Brisbane starts since switching from NZ to Chantal Turpin. Tackles some stronger rivals but she has been kept up to the mark with a trial win and is a filly on the up. PERFECTDELIGHT (11) draws much wider than in her resuming win but wasn't far behind Sparkling Sea when ending the last campaign with a G1 placing at this circuit and distance. CAPTURE OUR HEART (2) is building nicely and draws well.
Race 5: YABBY DAM FARMS HAMMERHEAD TROTTERS MILE (GROUP 1)
KEAYANG ZAHARA (4) added another Group 1 to her imposing record when she drew clear for an 11m win in the Grand Prix at Melton last start. Worth noting the only time she has been beaten in 27 starts came in her lone attempt at this circuit and distance but she has gone from strength to strength since so can atone for that. GUS (12) has been a revelation with five straight wins over the last five months including the Group 1 double in New Zealand. His two Brisbane wins since a spell have been over longer distances and he hasn't tried the mile but he'll be peaking having won four of five previous third-up attempts. The outside barrier is never easy but he has overcome adversity before. Manners let JILLIBY BALLERINI (3) down last start but she had a series of wins or seconds to Keayang Zahara prior and she draws to be prominent. WATTS UP PARTYTIME (1) will need his manners from the ace draw but he is in form, winning his three starts in NSW since joining Rickie Alchin.
Race 6: SLINGSBY HOLDINGS NSW DERBY (GROUP 1)
The outside barrier poses a huge challenge for boom colt HOLLYWOOD STRIP (12) (pictured) but he has looked the real deal in winning all seven starts to date. He beat most of tonight's main rivals with his resuming win at Listed level before proving too good for older rivals last time, both at this circuit and distance. He'll be peaking so counting on a masterful Brad Hewitt drive to get him home. ZEUS LIGHTNING (5) is another hitting his best at the right time. Progressed off his fresh second to Hollywood Strip for a strong heat win by close to 7m last week, both times coming from one spot wider than this. Expect him to push forward again and this maps to pan out well for him. SHOWMETHETANLINES (1) took his record at this circuit and distance to three from five when winning his heat last week. He should get a soft run from the inside draw so could be dangerous. FIRE AND PASSION (2) and SOHO TRUMP (4) are both reliable colts who draw to be competitive so are worth including in exotics.
Race 7: GARRARDS MIRACLE MILE (GRAND CIRCUIT EVENT) (GROUP 1)
LEAP TO FAME (5) produced another 'off the canvas' style win in last week's qualifier when he worked, looked in danger but fought back in true warrior fashion. He is better known over further but that win was his seventh from nine mile attempts and he has recorded a win and a second in this race the last two years. There are plenty of challengers in a race packed with depth but there's no doubt he'll fight for it. CAPTAINS MISTRESS (4) has been sensational in winning all six starts for Jason Grimson, two at Group 1 level including last week's Chariots of Fire. Has been tackling her own age or the mares so she faces a different level of pressure against the big guns but has brilliant speed and is five from five at the mile. SWAYZEE (2) gets the same draw he had when locked away in last year's Miracle Mile but he was terrific from the outside last week and looks right at his best again. THE JANITOR (6) could be ready for the big time after sweeping home to win when first up last week. He is a big talent on the up. Last year's winner DON HUGO (10) will have to create history after drawing the outside barrier but there's no doubt he is going well after last week's luckless third
Race 8: HARD RATED PACE
SEATHESTARS (2) worked and faded when resuming in the Bonanza at Melton but has trialled nicely twice since, winning his latest hitout here so he should have come on. Now with the Peter Rixon yard and won at this circuit and distance last season before finishing close to the placegetters in The Eureka. Should get his chance from the low draw. DEMON BLUE (1) enjoys a much better barrier than he had in his last attempt. Came from wider draws for back-to-back wins in his first two outings for Jason Grimson, one of them at this circuit and distance. Player from the inside draw. SOHO GUNSLINGER (7) has been tackling the good four-year-olds, twice finishing midfield in Listed races before racing wide in the Chariots of Fire. He will find this easier. COASTAL DRIVE (10) draws wide again but comes back in grade off the Hondo Grattan and had missed by a nose here prior. Races well third up so should be at his peak.
Race 9: CONDELL PARK PRODUCE LADYSHIP PACE
EYE KEEP SMILING (7) was far from disgraced when midfield against the boys in a Miracle Mile qualifier last week. She'll enjoy the return to her own sex having placed against the mares in her other three starts this time in, coming from the back row for third to the flying Captains Mistress in the G1 Queen of the Pacific two back. Has a terrific strike rate at this circuit and distance so can return to the winners' list. TOKYO ROSE (6) wasn't too far off Eye Keep Smiling when fourth in the Queen of the Pacific in their only clash. She has won her other three Australian starts, all of them at this circuit and distance and by big margins. Huge danger. THE VICAR OF DIBLEY (5) was hampered by a flat tyre here last start so can do better. Big class jump for FARFALLA STRIDE (3) but she is in form with back-to-back wins and strikes at 50 per cent at this circuit and distance.
BEST BETS:
Race 4 #8 Ripples – Tackles some handy fillies but is fit and in form and can roll forward from this barrier.
Race 8 #2 Seathestars – Trialling strongly and should get his chance from the low draw.