Captains Mistress in with a shot at Miracle Mile history

By Adam Hamilton 

Former brilliant Kiwi mare Captains Mistress will be chasing history in next week’s $1m Miracle Mile at Menangle.

The four-year-old booked a spot in the Miracle Mile when she toyed with her rivals in last night’s $250,000 Group 1 Chariots Of Fire.

Captains Mistress is just the fourth mare to beat the boys in the Chariots since it was first run in 1996.

She drew gate four in the Miracle Mile and will try to become the first four-year-old mare to win the race since the race was first run in 1967.

“She’s just so good. It’s a privilege to sit behind a great mare like this,” driver Cam Hart said. “She gives you a feeling like very few can.”

Captains Mistress made it seven wins from as many starts since moving across from NZ to join Jason Grimson’s Menangle stable.

It was Hart’s third successive win in the Chariots Of Fire after scoring on Frankie Ferocious in 2024 and Bay Of Biscay last year.

He now shares the record of most wins in the race with the late Gavin Lang.

“It’s been a great race to me and to win it again on this mare is extra special,” Hart said. “To beat these fields the way she is … it’s quite unbelievable.”

Leap To Fame showed all his champion qualities to win his way into a third Miracle Mile last night.

Forced to sit outside the leader again, Leap To Fame outstayed leader Hi Manameisjeff and staved off a booming finish from recent Kiwi import Chase A Dream to win first of the two Miracle Mile qualifiers at Menangle last night.

It snared him a golden ticket into a third successive Miracle Mile, having won it in 2024 and finishing second to Don Hugo last year.

Leap To Fame drew five and will move down gate four in the Miracle Mile when the emergencies come out.

“He felt super. I was really happy with the way he dug in and lifted in the last bit to win,” trainer-driver Grant Dixon said.

“He’s always had that great will to win and showed it again tonight.”

Leap To Fame’s 1min48.6sec mile equaled his career best. He ran home in a scorching 53.6sec.

The Kiwi-owned Chase A Dream also gained a golden ticket with his fantastic second for trainer Jason Grimson and driver Jye Coney.

Don Hugo also gets a chance to defend his crown next week after a close and unlucky third placing landed him one of the “wildcard” spots into the Mile.

He was crossed at the start by Hi Manameisjeff, held up behind that horse at a crucial stage when he tired and then got clear late and flashed home for third.

It was an obvious and ideal use of a wildcard.

Former Kiwi pacer The Janitor made it all Queensland night in the qualifiers when he stormed home for a minor upset in the other sprint.

Despite being shuffled out to near last from a barrier one draw, driver Pete McMullen got The Janitor to the outside rounding the final bend and he stormed home to win by a metre over a very brave Swayzee.

The performance of Swayzee to sit parked throughout in a 1min49.3sec mile was monstrous.

The Janitor and Swayzee both got golden tickets into the Miracle Mile.

Kingman was the shock of the night after he led and stopped sharply to finish way back in ninth spot.

To the shock of many, Club Menangle selectors still gave Kingman a start in the Miracle Mile ahead of Rakero Rocket, who ran second in the Newcastle Mile and third to The Janitor last night.

Club Menangle Chief Executive Bruce Christison explained the decision.

"Kingman has that elite form in the biggest races with his NZ and Victoria Cup wins and such a huge run in defeat in the Hunter Cup and we certainly think he adds something to the race," he said.

Kiwi raider Pinseeker didn’t show as much gate speed as expected, was shuffled well back and wasn’t disgraced in seventh spot.

MIRACLE MILE BARRIER DRAW:

1. Speak The Truth (2nd emerg)
2. Swayzee
3. Kingman
4. Captains Mistress
5. Leap To Fame
6. The Janitor
7. Chase A Dream
8. Bulletproof Boy
9. Rakero Rocket (1st emerg)
10. Don Hugo