Racing: Adore Me's record under threat in A$750k feature

Mark Purdon says Have Faith In Me can smash big sister Adore Me's Australasian mile record to win the A$750,000 Miracle Mile. Photo / NSW Harness Racing Club

Mark Purdon says Have Faith In Me can smash big sister Adore Me's Australasian mile record to win the A$750,000 Miracle Mile.

Have Faith In Me bludgeoned his way into the race with a 1:48.8 demolition job in the Chariots Of Fire at Menangle on Saturday, overcoming barrier 10 by sitting parked to win untouched by 10m.

Purdon had been unsure of a Miracle Mile start before the race but that performance left him in no doubt the four-year-old is ready to take on Beautide and Lennytheshark on February 28.

"He is in the zone and he just jogged it," said Purdon. "So he deserves his shot at these horses and he could have gone a lot quicker.

"I can't see any reason under the right circumstances he couldn't pace 1:47.5."

That would be inside the 1:47.7 mile Adore Me tore off an Menangle last season, the fastest ever in the Southern Hemisphere. Joining Have Faith In Me in the Mile will be former Waikato mare Arms Of An Angel, who was a huge third after an early gallop, her inclusion a shock harking back to the good old days of Miracle Mile controversy.

Beautide remains the pre-draw favourite for the Mile after his effortless prelude win on Saturday while further south Lennytheshark jogged to a Bendigo Cup victory, suggesting he will be in perfect order for what is now the race of the harness season.

Miracle Mile acceptors:

• Beautide, Lennytheshark, Have Faith In Me, Arms Of An Angel, Blazin N Cullen, Monifieth, Bling It On, My Hard Copy.

• Emergencies: Lord Zin Zan, Easy On The Eye.