Terror To Love gets another go at Miracle Mile
GRAHAM COURT is hoping the law of averages will help Terror To Love finally shine in the Miracle Mile.
Court, who co-trains Terror To Love with his son Paul, confirmed that they had accepted an invitation from the New South Wales Harness Racing Club for the rich Miracle Mile in Sydney on November 29.
Just eight horses will the invitation-only race.
The three-time New Zealand Trotting Cup winner joins fellow Cantabrian Christen Me in the field for the A$750,000 feature at Tabcorp Park Menangle.
The Courts’ star pacer has lined up three times in the Miracle Mile with a best effort of second in the 2012 edition of the race, that was actually held in 2013 because of track renovations.
On all three occasions Terror To Love has been unlucky with the all-important barrier draws.
‘‘If you go by the law of averages, we must be due a good draw,’’ Court said.
Some social media site pundits have questioned Terror To Love’s invitation – questioning whether his current form warranted it. Some wondered whether the Robert Dunn-trained Franco Nelson would have been a more appropriate choice. Terror To Love ran fourth in both the New Zealand free-for-all over 1950m and the New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington last week.
Franco Nelson ran second and third in the two races last week.
Court said despite the results
contest not going their way last week, they had been happy with both runs and were looking forward to the Sydney challenge. ‘‘I wouldn’t be going if I didn’t think we would be competitive.’’
Christen Me was invited immediately after his win in the freefor-all on Friday.
Mark Purdon received an invitation after Adore Me won the New Zealand Cup but declined, opting to focus on an Auckland campaign in December.
Australian For A Reason, who ran third in the New Zealand Trotting Cup last week, has also been confirmed along with defending champion Beautide and Newcastle Mile winner Avonnova. The final three spots will be determined after the running of Saturday’s Cordina Sprint at Menangle.