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DOMINANT Chariots Of Fire winner Frankie Ferocious will have to create history to do what Catch a Wave did last year and add the $1mil Miracle Mile at Menangle next Saturday night.
Jason Grimson's latest stable star drew the outside barrier (gate 10), meaning he will start from eight when the emergencies come out.
No horse has won the Miracle Mile since the race moved from Harold Park to Menangle in 2009.
It also makes the decision harder for young gun driver Cam Hart to choose between Frankie Ferocious and his stablemate, Hi Manameisjeff, who will start from much closer in (gate five).
"Jase and I will have a good think about how the race might be run now we've got the draw and make a decision (on who he drives) from there," Hart said.
"It's certainly not ideal from right out there for 'Frankie', but 'Jeff' gets out quickly and five is good for him."
Just as big a twist in the barrier draw came when Australia's pin-up Leap To Fame drew also drew poorly, second from the outside (gate nine).
"What was always going to be a hard race, just got harder, that's for sure," Leap To Fame's trainer-driver Grant Dixon said.
Add to that young Kiwi star Dont Stop Dreaming drew barrier eight and you couldn't ask for any more twists.
Leap To Fame eased from $2 to $2.40 after the draw with Frankie Ferocious out from $4 to $8.50.
The big winner firmer after the draw was Hi Manameisjeff, in from $5 to $3.
The injury-plagued seven-year-old is unbeaten in nine starts at Menangle since joining Grimson's stable last year.
Remarkable veteran Spirit Of St Louis fared well to use his brilliant early speed from gate two at his third consecutive Miracle Mile.
Luke McCarthy's star ran second to stablemate King Of Swing in 2022 and second again to Catch A Wave last year.
Emerging Queenslander Speak The Truth also comes right into contention from barrier one after a career-best qualifying win at Menangle last night.
MIRACLE MILE BARRIER DRAW (all runners of front row)
Speak The Truth, Spirit Of St Louis, Loyalist, Curly James (1st emerg), Sooner The Bettor, South Coast Arden (2nd emerg), Hi Manameisjeff, Dont Stop Dreaming, Leap To Fame, Frankie Ferocious.
