Master Mood and Trident outsiders in Miracle Mile betting

Press, 5 December 1986, Page 32

Master Mood and Trident outsiders in Miracle Mile betting

NZPA staff correspondent Sydney New Zealand’s two contenders for the $NZ217,600 John Player Special Miracle Mile, having drawn the outside barriers, have also become the two outsiders in the betting here for Australia’s premier pacing sprint. The trainers of both Master Mood and Trident acknowledge it will take a bit of luck at Sydney’s Harold Park this evening to overcome the disadvantage of their barrier draws, with Master Mood in barrier five and Trident drawn six in the sixhorse field of top sprinters from Australia and New Zealand.

On the tight 743-metre Harold Park track, with about 100 metres from the start to the first turn, the two New Zealand pacers have all the work to do. Just inside them — in barrier four — is the New Zealand-bred odds-on favourite for the race, Village Kid. The Inter-Dominion champion from Western Australia is attempting to become the first horse to

win the Miracle Mile twice — a feat many see as a near certainty. He was quoted by Sydney bookmakers yesterday at 4 to 9, compared to Master Mood’s 16 to one and Trident’s 14 to one. But neither Master Mood’s trainer-driver Kevin Williams nor Trident’s trainer Brian O’Meara is too despondent about the barrier draw and their horses’ tasks against Village Kid. “No horse is unbeatable,” Williams said. “I have taken the approach that Village Kid is a great horse, but he is going to be beaten one day and it may be now’s the time. “I think Master Mood is going real well and from here on in, with a little bit of luck in the running, we might win — who knows?” O’Meara said he was not giving up before the race had even begun. “If one of the other runners makes Village Kid work without letting him get straight to the front, then I think Trident will be right up there at the finish,” he said. Williams said the five-

year-old bay entire had settled down well at his stable in the rural surroundings of Oakville west of Sydney. He has sharpened up the horse with a couple of fast workouts at the nearby Hawkesbury track this week and said Master Mood seemed to be thriving. “He’s not setting any records but the way the horse has done over here I’m quite happy and he is certainly race fit,” Williams said. Trident has trialled well this week and O’Meara said yesterday that the horse had recovered from the slight ill effects of his journey to Sydney last Friday. Although disappointed about Trident’s draw, history may be in O’Meara’s favour.

“Young Quinn (1975) and Locarno (1980) both won the race from barrier six, so it might be a lucky omen for the New Zealanders,” the Southland trainer said. Village Kid, the fastest miler in the field with a Imin 55.5 s personal best, won the last JPS Miracle Mile from the pole posi-

tion and trainer Bill Horn said the horse would attempt to go straight to the front this evening.

Victorian entrant Riverlea Jack, which has drawn barrier position No. 1, could be the one to upset Village Kid. Riverlea Jack is known for its blistering starts and has won its last five races, including the Geelong Cup on Wednesday. The other two horses lining up in the Miracle’ Mile are Paleface Bubble, from New South Wales, and My Lightning Blue, Victoria’s other contender. Jetbet: 10 (Run tonight) Race 1 11.10 (NZT) TF, F MIRACLE MILE jAustl7o,ooo; mobile; one mile 1 nil Riverlea Jack 1 it T. Demmler 2 1231 Paleface Bubble 2 It M. Ilsley 3 1122 My Lightning Blue 3 It J. O’Sullivan 4 1111 Village Kid 4 It C I ewis 5 7112 Master Mood 5 It K. Williams 6 9131 Trident 6 It J. Hay