Racing: Bookmakers tighten Kiwi Ingenuity odds

Kiwi Ingenuity is fighting fit for her clash with several high-quality rivals, including Auckland Reactor, at Menangle next Sunday.

Two incidents thousands of miles apart have convinced Robbie Holmes he can win the Miracle Mile with Kiwi Ingenuity.

The North Canterbury trainer started the weekend hoping his great mare could match it with Australasia's best in next Sunday's A$500,000 sprint of champions in Sydney.

Now he is sure she can win.

The first boost to Kiwi Ingenuity's chances came when she trialled sensationally at Rangiora on Saturday, blazing over her last 800m in 54.7 seconds for an effortless win in a 2000m mobile event.

The second, and more important, came when she drew perfectly at barrier two for the Mile, while transtasman champs Blacks A Fake (eight) and Auckland Reactor (seven) drew the two worst barriers.

That saw Kiwi Ingenuity shorten from $8 to $6.50, with Auckland Reactor drifting to $3.20 and New Zealand Cup winner Monkey King into $4 after drawing barrier four.

Holmes says barrier two is ideal.

"That is exactly what I wanted and the other barriers are, too," he said, referring to his rivals.

"I would say Smoken Up will go forward and try and lead and that gives up two really good options.

"Either I can try and trail him or we can be the first horse to sit parked and I am sure if that happens then we will get cover behind a horse like Blacks A Fake.

"So we should be handy with cover at some stage and that is perfect for her."

Holmes says he has changed Kiwi Ingenuity's training in preparation for the Mile, with shorter training runs on the beach.

"I have given her some heats of miles on the beach and she is really sharp at the moment."

His greatest concern now with the New Zealand mile record holder is the heat wave which has hit Sydney in the past week.

"I wouldn't want it really hot, but the long-range forecast is for 25 degrees, which will be all right."

Smoken Up was the big shortener with Australian bookies after the draw, with most rival drivers expecting him to lead.

On the track where he set the Australian national mile record he will be hard to run down and could well go close to starting favourite on Sunday.

The field for Sunday's Miracle Mile, to be run for the first time at Menangle, outside Sydney, is Lonestar Legend (1), Kiwi Ingenuity (2), Smoken Up (3), Monkey King (4), Karloo Mick (5), Melpark Major (6), Auckland Reactor (7), Blacks A Fake (8), Washakie (9), Can't Bluff Me (10). Emergencies: Can't Bluff Me, Washakie.

Australian TAB market: $3.20 Auckland Reactor, $4 Monkey King, $4.50 Smoken Up, $6.50 Kiwi Ingenuity, Melpark Major; $9 Blacks A Fake; $13, Karloo Mick, $41 Lonestar Legend.

MIRACLE MILE

*Kiwi Ingenuity has drawn best of the three New Zealand pacers in Sunday's Miracle Mile.

*She won impressively at the Rangiora workouts on Saturday.

*Auckland Reactor, who is the $3.20 favourite, will start from barrier seven.

*The race will be held at Menangle, outside Sydney, for the first time.