Racing: Christen Me's Miracle

Dexter Dunn drives Christen Me. File photo / Getty Images

New Zealand's Christen Me won a two horse war with defending Australian champ Beautide to win the A$750,000 ($814,014) Miracle Mile (1609m) at Menangle, Sydney, last night in a race record 1m 49.1s.

The Cran Dalgety-trained Christen Me became the first New Zealand trained horse to win Australasia's richest race since Monkey King in 2009 and he also emulated his sire Christian Cullen who won in 1998.

The Shane Tritton-trained duo of Easy On The Eye and Suave Stuey Lombo engaged in an early speed duel with Avonnova as the eight-horse field left the gate.

By the time the former Kiwi had emerged in the lead, they had carved up the first quarter in a sizzling 25.2 seconds.

James Rattray settled Beautide in behind the leading trio, with Dexter Dunn dropping in behind with Christen Me.

New Zealand's other entrant in the race Terror To Love spent the early part of the race near the rear from his outside draw.

Pacesetter Easy On The Eye cut out the second quarter in an easier 28.5 seconds, allowing Beautide to work his way forward down the back straight with Christen Me tracking his every move.

Beautide soon hit the front but Christen Me was now at his shoulder and by the turn, the pair had drawn clear of the field.

Centimetre by centimetre, Christen Me gradually got the ascendancy in a thrilling duel to the wire.

Guaranteed finished on strongly for third ahead of Terror To Love.