KEY POINTS:
Pay Me Christian's Miracle Mile hopes are summed up best by one sentence from trainer Paul Kerr.
"We are looking forward to the Treuer Memorial next week," says Kerr.
The Treuer Memorial is the next stop on the Grand Circuit after Friday's Miracle Mile and Kerr is realistic enough to realise that may be Pay Me Christian's best chance of a group one win any time soon.
Because the moment the Kiwi speedster drew the outside of the front line for Friday night's A$500,000 ($575,000) sprint at Harold Park, his trainer realised he faces a near mission impossible.
No race in Australasia is harder to win from the outside barrier than the Miracle Mile, especially since the field size was changed three years ago to eight horses, all starting off the front.
Harold Park has always been a leader's track and that bias is never more evident than in the Miracle Mile, where the class of the field means few leaders slow down enough to even allow challengers.
That means those who settle back, except for on very rare occasions, are asked to sprint their final sectionals in lighting quick times three or four wide on the track.
Which is why Canterbury-based Kerr is not worrying about Friday night's draw - it is so bad it is almost not worth thinking about.
"We knew as soon as we drew eight that we probably can't win," admits Kerr.
"Sure, if things don't go the way they usually do in this race and we get the right cart into it, then he has the speed to win.
"But that means we are going to need a lot of luck.
"So there is no point worrying about it. All we can do now is hope for that luck and see what happens."
While disappointed by the draw, Kerr is thrilled with how Pay Me Christian has come through his Australasian record 1:52.8 win in the Newcastle Mile 11 days ago.
"He has thrived and couldn't be better. He is ready for the race of his life."
Pay Me Christian will have his first look at the tricky Harold Park track today when he trains twice over a mile.
"It will be good for him to get a look at it, especially as he will have to come wide at some stage in the race."
Pay Me Christian's wins have all come when he was able to lead but Kerr has ruled out an at-all-costs shot at the lead from his wide barrier on Friday night.
"I think that would be madness. Even if he had the speed to get around them he would have worked so hard he would be a sitting duck."
Which is why Kerr is already looking forward to the Treuer, to be run at Bankstown on Saturday week.
"That is a nice second option for us and it looks a leader's track so if we draw well there then we have to be hard to beat."
Safely through the Sydney races, Pay Me Christian is likely to head to Perth for the A$200,000 Gold Nugget next month before returning home for a spell.
"I want to give him a good break and then set him for the Taylor Mile and Messenger at Alexandra Park before the Harness Jewels in June."
Because he is a Kiwi, Pay Me Christian is paying just $5 in the TAB's fixed-odds market for Friday's race while some Australian bookmakers are already offering $8. He could close even longer on the tote.
Defending champion Be Good Johnny, nominated by Kerr as the horse to beat, heads markets on both sides of the Tasman.
* The latest NZ TAB odds for the Miracle Mile. - $2.75 Be Good Johnny; $3.80 Sly Flyin; $5 Pay Me Christian; $6.50 Blacks A Fake; $7 Flashing Red; $15 Smooth Crusa; $18 Slipnslide; $26 Top Taper.
Emergencies: $20 Foreal; $100 Lucky Elsie.
