Lennytheshark gets revenge in 2017 Miracle Mile

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LENNY’S A SUPERSTAR

A nose cost Lennytheshark victory in last year’s Miracle Mile when Australia’s most popular pacer was beaten by Have Faith In Me.

So that made revenge all the more sweeter at Tabcorp Park @ Club Menangle tonight when Lennytheshark prevailed by that barest possible margin, beating Mark Purdon’s trio of Smolda, Lazarus and Our Waikiki Beach in the $750,000 Group One Ainsworth Miracle Mile . . . the 50th running of the elite invitation-only race.

Driver Chris Alford and trainer David Aiken, with a young Shark supporter, after Lennytheshark’s win in the 2017 Miracle Mile..

It was an emotional reinsman Chris Alford who returned after ‘Lenny’ broke the magical 1:50 mark, rating 1:49.2 in a fabulous finish that capped off a great night of harness racing before a massive crowd at the south-western Sydney circuit.

Alford has run several placings in Miracle Miles with some great horses like Golden Reign and Tailamade Lombo but will be talking about Lennytheshark’s greatness for the rest of his days after a victory that defied the critics.

Trainer David Aiken was just as overcome by this horse’s incredible victory.

“He’s had his problems this horse and my name may be in the racebook as the trainer but I can tell you this is very much a team effort,” said Aiken.

“I’m originally a Sydney boy and I’ve been going to the Miracle Mile since I was eight or nine years old and I never really dreamed I would have a horse good enough to win it.

“This horse is just a dream. He’s has leg issues and he had a foot injury in Perth but we’ve continued to swim him and get him right and tonight he showed what he can do. He’s a freak.”

Turning for home the crowd was on its feet as four great horses fought it out tooth and nail.

Despite Purdon’s trio giving it everything, Lennytheshark refused to yield as he added the Miracle Mile to his Inter Dominion and a string of other great victories.

THERE’S LIFE IN THIS DEAD CAT

He’s the ultimate professional reinsman and prolific Victorian winner Chris Alford showed just why when he won the Group One Australian Pacing Gold Trotters Cup at Tabcorp Park @ Club Menangle on Saturday, February 25.

Alford quickly found the front with the Nicole Molander-trained Dead Cat Bounce and defied all efforts to run him down in the straight, scoring a 2.6m win over Glenferrie Burn and Uncas, rating an impressive 1:54.1 for the flying mile.

As the field swung for home there looked to be challenges coming from near and far but Alford and Dead Cat Bounce held them all at bay to give Victoria another Group One for the night.

Just 45 minutes earlier Alford scored one of the biggest wins of his stellar career, taking out the Miracle Mile with Lennytheshark, but rather than rest on his laurels he was back in the bike and drove another fabulous race to add to one of his best nights at Menangle.

Not a bad effort when you consider Alford has driven thousands of winners in a stellar career that win earmark him as one of the greats of this sport.

The unusually-named Dead Cat Bounce has now won three in succession and gave the former NSW trainer Molander her first Group One trotting success since she lost ace trotter Keystone Del from her stable.

Courtesy of Mandy Zammitt, Social Media & Trotguide Co-ordinator, Menangle.