The Miracle Mile 2011 will be run over a distance of 1,609 metres and is worth a total of $500,000 in prize money.

Current favourite for the 2011 Miracle Mile is Smoken Up, who is looking to continue his impressive race record.

Smoken Up is paying odds of $2.50 at Luxbet, while second favourite I’m Themightyquinn is paying odds of $3.10.

Third favourite for the 2011 Miracle Mile is Franco Jamar, who is paying $6.50 at Luxbet, while Mr Feelgood is fourth favourite at $7.50.

The least backed runner in the 2011 Miracle Mile is presently Mega Alexander, who is paying $101 to win and $18.39 to place at Luxbet.

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The Victorian horse will have more than one genuine challenger which is a rare thing for an animal of his incredible talent.

While still favourite and a deserving one at that, he will have plenty to do from the second row with a bit of luck needed to secure a victory.

In his first run he put in a lot of wokr early but still had enough left to outstay the field including his rival toniht Sovereignty.

In his second race his performance was even better coming from last on the back strait to claim the race in the final 100m.

In addition to that there is his February win in the Australasian Trotting Championships so everything point to another Australian victory at the Inter Dominions tonight.

Still though, his trainer, a veteran of three straight Inter Dominion victories knows the depth of the field could prove problematic.

“A lot of people back home don’t realise how hard it is to win a big trot race over here,” Lang said.

“Back home, if we have four really good trotters in the same race it is a big deal. But this week, you have about seven or eight trotters in this race who probably only have about two lengths between them.

“So this horse might go a super race this week, be able to sit parked and beat Sovereignty or whoever is in front but get gunned down by Stylish Monarch, Raydon or Springbank Richard.

“That is the problem. When the fields are as even as they are over here any bad luck will be punished.”

Lang acknowledges that in all hsi previous wins he’s had plenty fo luck with the opportunity to lead from the front by the time they hit the first turn.

Tonight though it looks like Sovereignty will be in that position whihc could be veyr dangerous.

“In front is the place to be because if you are good enough from in front you will win.

“And that will make it really hard to beat Sovereignty, because he looks the leader. What we have to hope for is no bad luck, some good luck and a fair shot.”

If Let Me Thru can get an opportunity few doubt he’s good enough, but considering he could be as far as 15 lengths back at the firts turn the question is will he ever actually get into the race.

Springbank Richard is arguably the biggest chance of an upset after an unexpectedly good carnival while the 3200m record holder Stylish Monarch was more than solid in both lead up heats.

I Can Doosit as always is a chance if he can get it right on the night but consistent is certainly not a word you’d use to describe this horse.

He looked the winner in the final 100m last Friday but with just 50m to go he all but stopped dead.

Let Me Thru is a $2 favourite with online bookmaker Luxbet.

Sean McCaffrey is seen by many as New Zealand’s best hope in either of the Interdominion finals with Sovereignty the second favourite for the $250,000 Trotting showpiece.

The kiwi’s have all but forfeited the pacing final with a wave of New Zealand bred but Australian trained horses coming back to bite them this year.

In the trots though Mcaffrey is quite upfront and direct about what he expects from his horse.

“I think you reverse the draws from last week and we beat Let Me Thru,” said McCaffrey of Sovereignty’s second to the series favourite last Friday.

“I rate the Aussies but I am not scared of them. I think my horse is just as good as them and I won’t be scared to get up outside them and see how tough they are. In this series you aren’t going to be given anything, you are going to have to take it and I think my horse can do that.”

After he said this the New Zealand Herald’s Michael Guerin made some interesting observations about the comment.

“This sort of quote is what we usually expect from cocky Australians rather than shellshocked Kiwi trainers midway through a series in which we are getting pasted.

Who better to bring about an Australian downfall than McCaffrey, the most Australian-like of New Zealand trainers.

McCaffrey speaks like an Aussie, his conversations full of amusing quips and intelligent yet biased analysis.

You could make a case he trains more like an Aussie, his horses are often fit at the start of their campaigns and McCaffrey always encouraging his drivers to be aggressive.

McCaffrey’s colours are even Australian, being green and gold.”

If you picked up the overwhelming frustration and discontent with the state of New Zealand harness racing from Guerin you weren’t imagining it.

Nothing annoys the kiwi’s more than being embarrassed on their own soil, least of all by Australians, especially when a good portion where bred in NZ to begin with.

For McCaffrey though it’s going to take a lot more than ‘cocky biased analysis’ as the Australians have the runs on the board while his horse has no series wins but plenty of excuses.

The fact is unless you cross the line first the ‘what if’s’ don’t matter and on Friday night Sovereignty will need to come from the second row and overcome two time champion Sundon’s Gift.

You would never guess though, McCaffrey thinks his horse is better.

“Unless he was tied up last Friday they have a problem because he stopped way too badly for a horse of his ability,” he says of Sundon’s Gift.

“He is a great horse but we can beat him and I want Maurice [McKendry] to get handy and put our boy into the race.”

Whether you consider that realistic or not, kiwi’s are taking comfort in the fact a New Zealand trainer has the confidence to not lay down and really put up a fight.

Fair enough too considering the horse does have a good record coming into the 2011 Interdominions.

“He has had five hard runs in six weeks over the Christmas period and his best one was his last one.

“He will handle a hard series and we will let him show us how good he is.”

One thing you can never do is discount a kiwi, they proved that by being belted by Bangladesh before the cricket World Cup only to somehow beat South Africa and make the semi-finals.

If Sovereignty can perform a similar trick he’ll be close enough to favourite for the final especially if his barrier luck turns around.

The final could be a bit of a stumbling block though, after all, how many World Cups have the Kiwi’s won?

Gary Hall Senior could simply offer, “well I’m glad I’m not driving him”, a fair assessment given the task that faces his son.

While many expect Themightyquinn to be the pick of the race, the Auckland Cup winner prefers to either use a bit early and settle with cover or to be saved up for one sprint.

However form barrier six and heaps of front runners to the inside it’s created a complex situation for ‘junion’ as a driver.

“If it was the final I’d be going forward and trying to lead or trail,” Hall said.

“But the last thing I want is a hard run over 2700m first up and to not win.

“The horse is really well but a lot is going to depend what happens inside me at the start.

“If they all come charging out then I might go back and, from there, I might only finish third or fourth. It is a tricky one.”

With near odds on favouritism for Themightyquinn plenty of punters may feel a touch disconcerted after hearing this with a fair helping of luck seemingly needed.

It will also give a huge boost of confidence to Smiling Shard and Blacks A Fake as well as a value chance Washakie.

Luke McCarthy is pleased with his runners progress and has plenty of confidence he can steal a win.

“This horse is three lengths better than when he finished fourth in the Auckland Cup and I think he can win,” McCarthy said.

He doesn’t have the same confidence though when asked about stable star Mr Feelgood.

While he is the form horse of the series, starting form the second row with the other talent in font of him could cause problems.

“I’m thrilled with my horse but Smoken Up is hard to beat when he leads,” McCarthy said.

“I’d expect to be parked outside him at the bell and then it could turn into a sprint from the 400m.

“I still think I can beat him but I wouldn’t be surprised if it went the other way.”

There’s been plenty of movement throughout betting markets with heaps more expected as we near the race.

To stay on top of it all make sure you jump on to Luxbet for the best in trotting and pacing betting.

For a limited time they are even offering all new members a $400 free bet which can be used on any race throughout the Interdominion series.

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 At around $10, Monkey King is the shortest price New Zealand horse in the field which kicks off today in Auckland.

  However he has only shown a shadow of his best since winning the New Zealand Cup  at Addington in November last year.

It shows just how strong the Australian runners are this year with the top four horse in the field all from Aussie soil.

 Only adding to the Australian strength is the inclusion of Miracle Mile winner Smoken Up as well as Blacks A Fake whihc defeated Monkey King in the interdominion final last year.

 ”It’s good to be in New Zealand — even though we’re not in Christchurch, it’s probably easier than going to Australia — but it’s just as tough. It’s probably tougher to be honest.”

Some say there is an advantage to New Zealand horses because of Alexandra Park’s right handed direction of travel, one of the few in Australasia.

For Monkey King though it doesn’t make a lot of difference.

“He’s not coping too well with the right handed way at the moment, but in saying that Ricky (his driver Ricky May) wasn’t overly disappointed with his last run, he got pushed off the track wide and he still went well.”

After drawing seventh for the first heat in a field with the likes of Smoken Up  and Mr Feelgood, Hill says he would be content with third place.

“We just want to get some points on the board so we’re in the final, where we really want to be,” he said.

“If we’re there we’ve got to be bang on our game and get bit of luck with draws. There’s a long way to go yet.”

Hill does have another runner, Power Of Tara which will race in the second heat.

Whilst being in career best form he will start form the second row which leaves Hill with hopes no higher than fourth or fifth.

“He lacks that turn of foot but if they go hard and he’s following the right horse and the gaps come late, that’ll be pretty good for him.”

If you’re quick you can still bet on the Interdominion heats from Alexandra Park by jumping onto Luxbet as soon as possible.

There’s some fantastic odds available with the heats always throwing up a few curve balls and rewarding the punters who have a bit of faith.

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Run over a distance of 3,280 metres, the Group 1 Hunter Cup is worth a whopping $425,000.

According to odds released by Luxbet, the current favourite for the 2011 Hunter Cup is Im Themightyquinn paying $3 a win.

If you would like a free $400 bet, sign up for an account with Luxbet today and quote the promo code BONUS400.

Im Themightyquinn has won his last three starts and appears set to contest the title of this year’s Hunter Cup.

Stunin Cullen, who won the recent Ballarat Cup, and Power of Tara, who ran runner-up in the same race, are currently both paying $6 with Luxbet.

The other horse in the market is Smiling Shard, paying $6.50 at Luxbet, who has failed to place only once in its past five runs.

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2011 Hunter Cup Odds

* Odds courtesy Luxbet and correct at time of publication.

The Group 1 Victoria Derby is worth $200,000 and is the oldest classic harness race in Australia.

Luxbet have released their odds for the 2,240 metre event and currently have the New Zealand’s The Gold Ace as favourite, paying $3.20 a win.

The Gold Ace has won four of its five last starts.

Also in the market is Royal Verdict paying $3.50, as well as Hez Matt Maguire and Sushi Sushi, both paying $7 at Luxbet.

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2011 Victoria Derby Odds

* Odds courtesy Luxbet and correct at time of publication

Australia’s oldest classic harness race, the Group 1 Victoria Derby is worth $200,000.

The 2011 Victoria Derby will be run from a mobile start over a distance of 2,240 metres.

This year’s Victoria Derby has an exciting field of 12 horses that punters can easily bet on at SportsBet.

SportsBet is offering a variety of betting specials on the 2011 Victoria Derby, including the popular Super Bonuses.

Giving away $10,000 in Super Bonuses, including $5,000 in cash and $5,000 in free bets, SportsBet is giving away a share in a $2,500 free bet super bonus to help soften the blow if your horse runs 4^th in the Victoria Derby.

Current favourite with SportsBet is Royal Verdict at $2.80 for a win.

Coming second in his last start, trainer Ian Dornauf is confident in Royal verdict’s second up ability.

“I’m very happy with the barrier,” Mr Dornauf said.

“He should be a big improver on his first run and he’s done well since he raced (last week).”

One of the early favourite’s campaign for the 2011 Victoria Derby title has ended in tragedy when he died on Wednesday morning.

The Muskeg Express failed to get up after lying down following his morning track work.

“He seemed distressed after track work and just collapsed and died,” said The Muskeg Express’s trainer Luke McCarthy.

“It happened so quickly. I was about to call the vet and then he was gone.”

The Muskeg Express had drawn barrier six for the 2011 Victoria Derby.

“It’s devastating because he was such a lovely horse with such a bright future,” Mr McCarthy said.

The adjusted field is available below and you can bet on the race at SportsBet in order to take advantage of the Super Bonuses on offer.

2011 Victoria Derby Field and Barrier Draw

Run over 3280 metres, the Group 1 Hunter Cup will take place in Melton, the home of harness racing in Victoria.

The field includes some of Australia and New Zealand’s biggest names in harness racing, including Stunin Cullen, who is fresh off a win in last Saturday’s Group 1 Ballarat Cup.

Currently paying $6 a win with SportsBet Stunin Cullen has drawn second row barrier 13 for the 2011 Hunter Cup, meaning he will have to work hard for the win.

Trainer Tim Butt does not seem fazed by Stunin Cullen’s barrier draw, instead believing it may work to the horse’s advantage.

“That’s a pretty good draw for him really, it’s better than out wide,” Mr  Butt said.

“Unless we drew one or two, two (off the pegs) on the second line would be our next preference so we’re really happy with the draw.”

Current favourite with SportsBet for the $425,000 Hunter Cup is New Zealand horse Im Themightyquinn at $3 a win, which has won its last three starts, however, is the only handicapped entry at 10 metres.

Betting on the 2011 Hunter Cup has never been so good, with SportsBet offering punters an exclusive Money Back Special.

All you have to do is place a win or each way bet on this year’s Hunter Cup and if your horse runs 4^th SportsBet will give you your money back.

2011 Hunter Cup Field and Barrier Draw

The son of Lotsa Clout showed fantastic gate speed to take the lead three wide through the early stages of the race.  The gelding remained three wide through the middle stages of the pacing event, but made a move to lead one wide in the closing metres of the race. It was a very comfortable win for the six-year-old as he beat out second place getting Thrills Ahead by a massive 19.30 margin.

Other top contender Jackdylan managed to grab third place 20.50 off the race leader.

Hirli Birli Lombo was the $3.00 race favourite to win and he certainly didn’t let punters down who backed the brown gelding.

The NE Districts Cup marks the end of another weekend of racing at Central Wheatbelt, but the harness racing action continues throughout the week. Be sure to get to SportsBet for all of the best odds on all upcoming event scheduled to jump throughout Australia.

2010 NE Districts Cup Results