Racing: My Field Marshal wins Miracle Mile

My Field Marshall (4). Photo / Greg Bowker

The Kiwis stunned the harness racing world in record fashion last night but not with the horse everybody expected.

New Zealand trainer Tim Butt and his brother Anthony (driver) won the A$750,000 Miracle Mile at Menangle with My Field Marshal in an Australasian record 1:46.9 mile.

That tore 0.6 of a second off the record set by Have Faith In Me in the same race two seasons ago as My Field Marshal wore down Victorian pacers Jilliby Kung Fu and Soho Tribeca.

But while New Zealand won the race New Zealand's champion pacer Lazarus was the flop of the race, finishing unplaced for the first time in his 45 start career, beating only one rival home.

After being below his best with a virus last week he was simply run off his feet from the wide draw, with trainer Mark Purdon making no excuses.

"When you are three wide at that speed you have no chance," said Purdon.

But the race panned out beautifully for My Field Marshal who stalked the speed and stormed home late to grab victory in the last 20m.

"I thought Ants might have left it too late but I know better than to doubt him," beamed Tim.

Both Butt brothers have moved to Australia in recent years to rejuvenate their careers, with Tim setting up shop at the Menangle track so the win will be a stunning advert for his new stable.

"This is very satisfying because this horse has had two wind operations, which is why we chose to set him for this race rather than go to the Inter Dominions and Hunter Cup.

"But this is a race that has eluded us. Till now."