Grimson eyeing up the $1m The Race

By Adam Hamilton

Jason Grimson plans to have one, maybe even two runners, in the $1 million Race at Cambridge on April 10.

But he’s no closer to knowing which of his stable stars it will be.

Grimson’s immediate target is qualifying as many as he can for the $1 million Miracle Mile at Menangle on March 14.

He could have half the field.

“I’ll get through the Miracle Mile before I lock in Cambridge plans, but I’ll have one or two runners over there,” Grimson said.

“Rakero Rocket’s owners have a slot, so he’s a chance of going.”

Rakero Rocket, who boasts two wins and a second from three starts since joining Grimson’s barn late last year, will be favourite to book his Miracle Mile spot by winning Saturday night’s $100,000 Group 2 Newcastle Mile.

His task has been made much easier by confirmation Leap To Fame will not head to Newcastle, a race he has won the past two years.

It leaves Rakero Rocket a standout if he runs up to his blistering 1min47.3sec Menangle mile win two starts back, which was just 0.4sec outside My Field Marshal’s Australasian record.

Grimson’s other key Miracle Mile contenders are last-start Hunter Cup winner Swayzee, brilliant former Kiwi mare Captains Mistress, star speedster Hi Manameisjeff and recent Kiwi import Chase A Dream.

Captains Mistress can book a Miracle Mile berth by winning the  $250,000 Group 1 Chariots Of Fire. She is a $1.50 pre-post favourite

Grimson and stable driver Cam Hart are in awe of the four-year-old.

“I’ve got a great batch of horses at the moment, but she’s the best of them,” Grimson said.

That’s a massive call given Swayzee just won his second Hunter Cup, has also won two NZ Cups and earned almost $2.5 million.

Hart added: “If she had the sort of run Republican Party did in the Hunter Cup, she’d have won by a length. She’s just so quick.”

Although owner Mick Boots doesn’t sound keen on Cambridge with Captains Mistress, maybe a Chariots and/or Miracle Mile win could change his mind.

Especially given mares get a preferential draw in The Race.

Swayzee, Hi Manameisjeff and Chase A Dream will push to try to qualify for the Miracle Mile through the two sprints at Menangle on Saturday week.

“Swayzee’s in a great place at the moment,” Grimson said. “When I went to load my horses into the float the day after the Hunter Cup, it took me 25 minutes to catch him in the paddock.”

Swayzee finished a luckless fourth in last year’s Miracle Mile won by Don Hugo.

Chase A Dream, who brilliantly won a moderate free-for-all at his first start from Grimson on Hunter Cup night, could be his runner for the $1.25mil Group 1 Nullarbor at Gloucester Park on April 17.

“He’s my most likely WA horse,” Grimson said.

“I like him. I tried to get him a year or so back, but couldn’t so I tried again recently and Mark (Purdon) said yes.

“I’d only had him for just over a week when he won at Melton, so he’ll improve a lot on that.”

Gus confirmed for $600,000 Trot Slot

Star Queensland trotter Gus will be accompanied by stablemate The Janitor to Cambridge’s Night of Champions.

Co-trainer and driver Pete McMullen confirmed the pair were being specifically set for the huge meeting on April 10.

Gus, who stormed to prominence winning the Dominion and NZ Trotting free-for-all during NZ Cup Week, will chase the $600,000 Trot Slot while The Janitor, one of Australia’s most exciting pacers, will target the $1 million The Race. 

“We’ve got the slots confirmed and are really targeting Cambridge,” McMullen said.

Gus has raced just once since Addington for a huge win off a 40m handicap at Albion Park on February 7.

“He’ll probably run here (Albion Park) again next week and then it’s down to Sydney for the Hammerhead (March 14),” McMullen said. “Then we’ll focus on Cambridge.”

McMullen said it was unlikely Gus would stay in NZ beyond the Trot Slot for races like the Anzac and Rowe Cups.

“We’ve got a big team of horses and two kids, it’s hard to go away from home for that long,” he said.

“It’s also not that long after Cambridge until the Inter Dominion here (Albion Park).”

The Janitor hasn’t raced since finishing a fantastic and close third to Don Hugo and Leap To Fame in the Group 1 Blacks A Fake at Albion Park on December 6.

McMullen said The Janitor would not chase the $1 million Miracle Mile on March 14.

“He’ll run at Menangle that night, but we’ll go to the Lighthorse free-for-all (1609m) instead,” co-he said.

“We’re really focused on having him primed for Cambridge, so we’ll use Sydney as a stepping stone rather than going into the deep end (Miracle Mile).”

The Janitor was given a standing-start trial at Albion Park with a longer term view to November’s $1 million NZ Cup.

“It’s a long way off, but we thought we’d take the chance to give him some standing start practice,” McMullen said.

“He’s got Cambridge, the Inter Dominion here and then, all going well, he and Gus will go to NZ Cup Week.”