KEY POINTS:
Natalie Rasmussen has some ominous words of warning for New Zealand's Miracle Mile challengers - Blacks A Fake may be better than ever.
The Queensland trainer-driver will put the final touches on her champion pacer in a Miracle Mile lead-up race at Harold Park in Sydney tonight.
Safely through this race, she is set to tackle the best in the Mile , the only major Australian race she has yet to win with Blacks A Fake.
And while the three-time Interdominion hero is now an 8-year-old, Rasmussen says he is still the horse to fear in any race.
"I have seen Auckland Reactor and Changeover in the last week and they are both great horses," said Rasmussen this week.
"And I am not saying we will just turn up and beat them because even the best horses get beaten, including Blackie. But I am not scared of them."
Blacks A Fake has only been beaten once this year and Rasmussen says his work in the last week has been perfect.
"He feels as good as ever, if not better," she said.
Blacks A Fake races mainly fringe Mile contenders tonight and with most of his rivals looking for an invite to the big one it is hard to imagine them getting into a war with him. One scenario is fast beginner Make Me Smile trying to lead and then trail Blacks A Fake, possibly getting towed into second - and a spot in the Miracle Mile.
Either way, with rumours swirling all over the Tasman about whether Auckland Reactor, Changeover and Be Good Johnny will all make the trip to Sy dney next week, Blacks A Fake looks certain to be the Mile favourite by the end of today.
That was already reflected in Australian bookies markets, with the super stallion having come in from $3 on Monday to $2 last night in pre-post Mile betting, while Auckland Reactor has drifted to $3, with Changeover fluctuating between $16, down to $5 and back out to $7.
Two horses not racing tonight seem certain to be in the Mile, with Divisive and former Kiwi pacer Iron Hudge likely to get starts.
That could leave just one spot spare which Fleur De Lil could grab in tonight's Ladyship Mile.
