HARNESS RACING
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Beautide will go into the $750,000 Miracle Mile as the hot favourite to claim back-to-back wins in the feature event at Menangle on Saturday.
The 2014 Inter Dominion and 2013 Miracle Mile winner drew gate three for the Group 1 and Grand Circuit feature and will be driven by trainer James Rattray.
The champion Tasmanian was the first horse since Smooth Satin in 2001-02 to hold both the Miracle Mile-Inter Dominion crowns after winning the latter in March.
He will look to maintain his stranglehold on the events on Saturday.
Beautide was listed as the $1.65 favourite with TAB Sportsbet on Tuesday afternoon ahead of last year's runner-up Christen Me ($4.20) and third placegetter For A Reason ($7.50).
Rattray and Beautide broke a record for the fastest Miracle Mile ever when beating home the pair last year in 1 minute 50.2seconds.
The full field was finalised after last Saturday night's Cordina Sprint - an event which sealed Suave Stuey Lombo's ($14) spot in the 2014 feature.
All contenders will arrive on track on Thursday.
NSW Harness Racing Club chief executive Bruce Christison said the club was prepared for another huge night of racing.
"Everything is on track. It is the most exciting time of the year for us, that is for sure," he said.
"The barrier draw is over with so everything is in place. The horses will come into the retention barn on Thursday morning. That means all the horses will be here at the track in readiness."
"We hoping for a big crowd and the weather forecast is fantastic. It should be a fast track."
The Miracle Mile will run at 9.40pm before a change is made next season.
It will move to February/March and a Sunday afternoon, Christison said.
Saturday will also feature the Group 1 Australian Trotters Final and six Group 1 races.