Karloo Mick was simply outstanding last Monday at Ashburton. I had a chat with Greg Bennett at Harold Park on Friday and he is of the opinion that there is improvement in the old gelding and that should be a very scary thought for the New Zealanders. Robbie Holmes decided to miss the Flying Stakes with Kiwi Ingenuity and competed in the last event. While she was never out of second gear in her easy win it is very hard to compare her victory to that of the Dubbo Destroyer.

After the win Barry Lew asked Greg Bennett to make the decision on whether the horse would compete at Kaikoura or the Cup Day trial and Bennett opted for the later. I would have thought the right decision has been made. Kaikoura is a very flat track and with the big field and a handicap it would make it very tough to make up ground in the final lap. The best option would be for a nice hit out during the week that Barry can control and then have him primed and ready to go on the second Tuesday of November.

His win at Ashburton last week also proved something to a few of his doubters. He can sprint with the best! Changeover dashed up the sprint lane inside Karloo Mick and while it looked as though he was going to sprint straight past him, Karloo Mick rallied and went with the reining New Zealand Cup winner. If the directors of the New South Wales Harness Racing Club didn't see that race then they should get a copy of it and watch it. If I was picking a Miracle Mile field currently he would be the fourth or fifth horse into the field.

A couple of the big guns in New South Wales had their colours lowered by Johnny El Gringo on Friday night in the Brian Hancock Cup. I think the majority of people thought that Lombo Pocket Watch would lead comfortably and Cant Bluff Me would have to do plenty of work to win the event but when the grey bullet failed to fire from the gate and Twelve Paces led it changed everything. Lombo Pocket Watch has never been a death horse and was always going to struggle when they went so slow early and with Cant Bluff Me sitting on his back, most punters would have assumed that he was going to be the winner.

Johnny El Gringo galloped early in the race and lost probably ten to fifteen metres but made his way to the pegs and waited for his chance to make a run. Jimmy Douglass waited for as long as he could to make his run on Cant Bluff Me and I can't help but think if Jimmy had pulled out early it may have been a different result.

When Cant Bluff Me made his move it allowed Johnny El Gringo to move off the pegs and when he forced Make Me Smile out wide on the home turn Anthony Bucca's horse had a clear run to the line and proved too fast for Cant Bluff Me and Twelve Paces.

Should that put Johnny El Gringo straight into the Miracle Mile? The simple answer is no. The Brian Hancock Cup was run at a farcical early speed and was basically a sprint home. I don't want to take anything away from Johnny El Gringo and he is certainly in the Miracle Mile mix but he will need to do it all again to grab an invite. Due to Johnny El Gringo's leg problems I would be very surprised if Bucca was keen to go from the Cordina Sprint into the Miracle Mile nine days later, so the best option for the horse may be a shot at the Newcastle Mile. If he could perform again at the same level then he would prove to many that he deserves a spot.

What about the beaten brigade? Cant Bluff Me's connections are considering a possible trip to Melbourne next week for the Legends Mile. He definitely will need to win a big race between now and the Miracle Mile to gain a start. His second behind Blacks A Fake in the Queensland Pacing Championship was very good but Friday night's defeat did damage his chances. Lombo Pocket Watch looks to have his mind on other things.

He didn't want to get involved in the early speed battle on Friday night and wasn't in the best of moods after the event either. Paul Fitzpatrick believes a gear change may do the trick but I think Mick Lombardo has a tough decision to make in the next 48 hours. Iron Hudge was having his first run back for a while and was ok without being brilliant but he does seem to improve with racing and has also been nominated for the Legends Mile.

On another topic Ashlee Siejka continued her winning run with another double at Harold Park on Friday night. She drove a winner for Paul Fitzpatrick when Saucy Legend won and also Intoxicated for the Russo stable.

She drove three winners at Bathurst during the week, two winners at Penrith and two at Harold Park. The best formula to back winners at the moment is to having something on all of Ashlee's drives.

Saucy Legend was very impressive and he had plenty left when he defeated Gotashotaway on Friday night. I think he is probably the best of the Fitzpatrick's horses at the moment and he is being aimed towards the Bohemia Crystal Free For All before being turned out for the Inter Dominion. If Paul wants a horse in the Miracle Mile maybe he should consider throwing the horse into the deep end and let him have a shot at the Newcastle Mile? Make Me Smile was not at his best again on Friday but I have no doubt we will see some big improvement when he draws to lead in a race, but in his current form he is a long way down the Miracle Mile pecking order. Catch you next week.