Racing: Miracles in short supply for courageous NZ pacer

New Zealand's hopes of Miracle Mile glory took a nosedive last night when outstanding pacer Sly Flyin was scratched from the A$500,000 ($533,000) sprint.

And trainer Tony Herlihy is facing the fact the Interdominion runner-up may not race again this season.

Sly Flyin has lost the latest round in his long battle with foot and leg soreness, which flared up again yesterday morning.

Herlihy received the call he had been dreading from caretaker trainer Vic Frost, who was concerned by Sly Flyin's condition when he went to work him in Queensland.

"Vic said he didn't feel right and he immediately suspected the worst," Herlihy said.

"We had the vet look at him yesterday and it appears he has some internal damage in his hoof area that has spread up and affected one of his tendons.

"It is likely to need an operation and that could mean six months away from the track.

"I am disappointed and Vic, who has been doing a lot of the work with him in the last month, is really upset by it."

The injury could not have come at a worse time as Sly Flyin was the third favourite for Friday night's Sydney sprint even after drawing barrier six.

He was the unluckiest horse in three open class races in Queensland last month before storming to a 1:53.6 win in the Newcastle Mile.

That only confirmed he is racing as well as any open class pacer in Australasia and he only needed some mid-race pressure on the leaders on Friday night to be a realistic chance of continuing New Zealand's great record in the Miracle Mile.

Regardless of the result there though he was going to be one of the horses to beat at any of the Australian features he contested in coming months, with races like the A$300,000 Victoria Cup and A$1.5 million Interdominion Grand Final in Tasmania on his agenda.

"It is a shame for his owner Greg Brodie but also for the horse because he has had to overcome so many problems in his career."

Just 10 months ago Sly Flyin looked washed up as an open class force after months of battling soreness. Herlihy turned to beach training the gelding with the help of Michelle Wallis and his best form soon returned.

He chased Elsu home in the Interdominion Final at Alexandra Park before winning two other feature races last season and being a gutsy second to Alta Serena after starting off a 10m handicap in the Easter Cup.

In his first start this season he came from near last for a close second to Myron, beating Just An Excuse and Alta Serena, before his indifferent form from standing starts convinced Herlihy to take him to Australia.

His scratching leaves Canterbury mare Foreal as the only New Zealand-trained pacer in the Miracle Mile.

Former Miracle Mile winner Smooth Satin now makes his way into the elite line-up.