SKY Channel Carnival of Miracles - Harold Park Paceway

Harold Park Function Centre | Menangle Markets

MIRACLE MILE STATISTICS

INTRODUCTION
First run in March 1967, when won by the eight-year-old New Zealand mare, Robin Dundee, this will be the 41st running of the Miracle Mile in 2006.

Driven by Robert Cameron, the trainer of Iraklis, which also won the Miracle Mile in December 1996, Robin Dundee ran the mile in an Australian record 1:59 – the first time the two-minute barrier had been bettered in a race in Australia – in beating Tongue Twister and Angelique by 25 yards.

SEX OF MIRACLE MILE WINNERS:
2 Mares – (Robin Dundee – 1967 and Norms Daughter (June 1996).
21 Horses – (Last winner – Christian Cullen (1998).
18 Geldings – (Last winner – Be Good Johnny (2006).
AGES OF MIRACLE MILE WINNERS:
4-Y-O – 5
5-Y-O – 17
6-Y-O – 8
7-Y-O – 6
8-Y-O – 4
12-Y-O – 1
WINNING MIRACLE MILE BARRIERS:
1 – 9 (Last winner, Be Good Johnny – 2006)
2 – 10 (Last winner, Be Good Johnny – 2005)
3 – 5 (Last winner, Christian Cullen – 1998)
4 – 8 (Last winner, Smooth Satin – 2001)
5 – 5 (Last winner, Sokyola – 2003)
6 – 4 (Last winner, Double Identity – 2002)
7 – 0
8 – 0
SMALLEST FIELDS:
Only five horses started in the Miracle Mile in 1993 and 1997.

In 1993, stewards withdrew the odds-on favourite, Jack Morris, only minutes before the start when blood was noticed trickling from his nostrils.

Four years later, in 1997, stewards withdrew Christian Cullen, only the second three-year-old invited to contest the Miracle Mile, when a pre-race swab revealed traces of a prohibited substance – heptaminol. Subsequent testing revealed that the control fluid was contaminated.
LARGEST FIELD:
For the first time in the history of the race, Harold Park officials introduced new guidelines which allowed a seven horse field to contest the 2002 Miracle Mile. The following year, in 2003, NSWHRC Directors increased the field to eight starters with one emergency.
WHERE MIRACLE MILE WINNERS TRAINED:
New South Wales 12 (Last winner, Double Identity – 2002)
New Zealand 11 (Last winner, Holmes DG – 2000)
Western Australia 7 (Last winner, Norms Daughter – June 1996)
Victoria 7 (Last winner, Sokyola – 2004)
Queensland 3 (Last winner, Be Good Johnny – 2006)
Tasmania 1 (Last winner, Halwes – 1968)
MOST DRIVING APPEARANCES:
Brian Hancock (14)
FASTEST MILE RATE IN THE MIRACLE MILE:
1609m: Westburn Grant (1:55.6)
1760m: Iraklis (1:54.2 – track record)
FIVE FASTEST MIRACLE MILE WINNERS:
Iraklis (December 1996) – 1:54.2.
Be Good Johnny (2006) - 1:54.3
Christian Cullen (1998) – 1:54.4.
Sokyola (2003) – 1:54.5
Holmes D G (2000) – 1:54.6
FIVE SLOWEST MIRACLE MILE 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.
DUAL MIRACLE MILE WINNERS:
Village Kid (January 1986, and 1987)
Westburn Grant (1989 and 1990)
Chokin (1993 and 1994)
Holmes D G (1999 and 2000)
Sokyola (2003 and 2004)
Be Good Johnny (2005 and 2006)
MOST SUCCESSFUL MIRACLE MILE TRAINER:
Barry Purdon (5 wins)
MOST SUCCESSFUL MIRACLE MILE DRIVER(S):
Tony Herlihy (3 wins)
Vic Frost (3 wins)
YOUNGEST MIRACLE MILE DRIVER:
Blake Fitzpatrick (20, 2003)
OLDEST MIRACLE MILE DRIVER:
Harry Martin (64, 2003)
YOUNGEST HORSE(S) TO WIN A MIRACLE MILE:
Mount Eden (4yo)
Gundary Flyer (4yo)
Westburn Grant (4yo)
Iraklis (4yo)
Christian Cullen (4yo)
OLDEST HORSE TO WIN A MIRACLE MILE:
Double Agent – 12yo (1984)
BIGGEST WINNING MARGIN IN THE MIRACLE MILE:
Robin Dundee – 25 yards (1967)
MOST MIRACLE MILE APPEARANCES:
Paleface Adios (7 starts).
1974 – 2nd (Hondo Grattan l).
1975 – 5th (Young Quinn 1).
1976 - 1st.
1977 - 2nd (Royal Force 2).
1978 – 2nd (Pure Steel 1).
1979 – 2nd (The Scotsman 1).
1980 – 3rd (Locarno 1, Pure Steel 2).
THE MIRACLE MILE HAS BEEN RUN TWICE IN THE SAME CALENDAR YEAR ON TWO OCCASIONS (1986 AND 1996) THE WINNERS WERE:
1986 – Village Kid (January) and Master Mood (December)
1996 – Norms Daughter (June) and Iraklis (December)
SHORTEST AND LONGEST-PRICED MIRACLE MILE WINNERS:
Popular Alm (2/9 in 1983) and Locarno (20/1) in 1980.
FAVOURITES:
18 Successful – 23 Unsuccessful.
ODDS-ON & BEATEN:
Preux Chevalier – 8/11 – Last in 1984.
Village Kid (December) – 4/9 – 3rd in 1986.
Il Vicolo (June) – 4/5 – 2nd in 1996.
Iraklis – 9/10 – 3^rd in 1997.