Racing: Aussie predicts war in Mile

By MICHAEL GUERIN

The man behind Australia's new wonder pacer has declared war on his Miracle Mile opponents.

Six months ago Double Identity was unheard of. Now he is the favourite in most markets for Friday's A$400,000 sprint in Sydney.

And his trainer-driver Harry Martin is taking a go-with-what-got-you-there approach to the biggest race of his career.

Double Identity has risen to the top of the Aussie crop after being driven aggressively in races like the Queensland Pacing Championship and Martin says he will attack even harder on Friday night.

"Basically I have no choice," said Martin.

"He touches a knee a little bit on small tracks and that affects him a lot worse when he is wide out on the track.

"So on Friday I can't afford to sit back and come wide. I have to launch him and get handy, maybe even try for the front.

"Really, I have to declare war on the others."

That could set up a crazy Miracle Mile as the race also contains Victoria Cup-winning stayer Jofess and Legends Mile winner Hearts Legend, neither of whose drivers will be keen to take a backward step if Double Identity charges early.

With likely early leader Seelster Sam capable of pulling very hard the race could develop perfectly for those sitting off the pace - which will suit New Zealanders Yulestar and Young Rufus.

While Martin's plan sounds like racetrack suicide, he believes he has the horsepower to back it up.

He says Double Identity has never been better and has thrived since his electrifying second to Jofess in the Newcastle Mile, when he lost six lengths by tangling at the start.

"The mobile gate at Newcastle was going slower than he was used to after racing in Queensland and he tried to charge it."

That shouldn't be a problem on Friday night as the mobile tends to leave faster for the Miracle Mile than any other major race in Australasia.

While Martin, a new player on the Grand stage, is confident about Friday night, he admits Double Identity is a false favourite.

"I don't think he deserves to be the $3 favourite he is in some markets because he is the new boy on the open class block."

The New Zealand TAB agrees and posted Double Identity as a $3.75 joint favourite with Young Rufus yesterday.

But followers of the Canterbury pacer can get far better odds in Australia, with SuperTab offering the best odds on Young Rufus at $5.50.

Yulestar, even after his record-smashing win at Addington last start, is one of the outsiders in the field, with some markets having him as loose at $9.

Jofess has been the best backed runner in Australia this week while the surprise drifter in the race has been defending champion Smooth Satin. The Interdominion Grand Final winner is at $6 in some markets.

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The Miracle Mile's most successful driver won't be there on Friday night - in fact he won't be driving at all.

Champion horseman Tony Herlihy has won three Miracle Miles but will miss Friday night's Franklin Cup meeting at Alexandra Park after being suspended for one night at Addington last Friday.

Herlihy's charge, Frugal Echo, struck the sulky wheel of Castle Van in the Dominion Handicap, causing the latter's driver, Glenys Buchanan, to be dislodged from the sulky.