Our Maestro joins champions with win

Press, 28 November 1988, Page 37

Our Maestro joins champions with win

PA Sydney The New Zealand-bred Our Maestro joined an elite club of champion pacers when he won the $250,000 Miracle Mile in commanding style at Harold Park on Friday evening. The Gaines MinbarDreamy Melody horse, driven by Victorian reinsman Vin Knight, became the fifth pacer to win the Inter-dominion grand final and Miracle Mile in the same year. Our Maestro’s name joins harness racing greats Hondo Grattan, Young Quinn, Preux Chevalier and Village Kid. Starting a firm 10-9 favourite, Our Maestro won Australia’s premier sprint in a relatively slow Imin 58.1 sec — 2sec outside the race record set by Master Mood in 1986. But he proved far too sharp for the other topline pacers in the field. New Zealand’s champion stayer, Luxury Liner, which downed Our Maes-

tro for his recent world record performance in the New Zealand Cup. could do nothing to overcome a muddling pace after 400 m and had to settle for second place seven metres behind the winner. The Tasmanian-owned Thorate, stuck for a clear run until late, finished fast for third and New Zealand’s second representative, Speedy Cheval, was a game fourth. Knight won the Miracle Mile with Popular Alm in 1983, but would not compare Popular Alm with Our Maestro. “I’m just glad I have got this horse and no-one else has. We haven’t seen the best of him yet,” Knight said. After letting Rowleyalla cut across from gate four to burst into an early lead, Knight took Our Maestro to the front around the back straight when the pace slackened and never gave anyone else a look in. “I never had any doubt

that he was going to win,” Knight said. “He felt fantastic and when he got to the front I knew nothing could beat him.” Luxury Liner was parked on the outside of Our Maestro’s wheel in the second quarter and Tony Herlihy made a bid to overhaul him going into the final turn. But Our Maestro found another gear and cleared away in the home straight. Herlihy had no excuses, although he would have liked a fast pace throughout to suit his stayer, and agreed that he had no chance of catching Our Maestro once he was ahead. COMMODORE MIRACLE MILE $250,000; 1609 m. 1- OUR MAESTRO 2V. Knight 1 2- LUXURY LINER 3A. Herlihy 2 6-6 THORATE 5 B. Hancock 3 Others in finishing order: 5-4 Speedy Cheval, 4-5 Rowleyalla, 3-3 Riverlea Jack. 7 metres, 4 metres. Time: 1:58.1. Win: $1.70. Places: $1.45, $1.65. Quinella: $4.50. Trifecta: $29.60.