Racing: Pick6 money rides on 12-hour trip

A fortune of Pick6 money rides on Miles' 12-hour road trip to Riccarton Park in Christchurch.

If Miles soaks up his longest ride away from home, as Levin trainer Peter McKenzie hopes, the rising star is close to a good thing in the final jackpot leg tomorrow.

"Originally we were going to take him to Brisbane for the Queensland Derby this year, but he wasn't mature enough to handle the trip," said McKenzie. "Now that he realises it's his job to be a racehorse he should be okay, especially with three of his mates around him."

McKenzie also saddles maiden Alphard, promising 3-year-old Sculptor and, in the Winter Cup, the veteran stayer Bejayjay.

But, like most punters, it's Miles from whom McKenzie is expecting another winning run.

"I've always thought he was one of the best horses I've ever had - it was just a matter of whether he would mature into it," he said.

Miles drops back to 1800m from an impressive last-start 2200m win at Trentham on July 9.

But McKenzie is confident that won't stop the latest star in a growing line from the trainer's signature stallion His Royal Highness.

"He's got the gate speed to cope and he just cruises in his races - the distance won't bother him.

"He's a very exciting animal."

Although Miles isn't overly big, McKenzie also isn't phased by the horse's 58kg handicap either.

That's only 3.5kg above the minimum - discounting the ballots - and Miles won a 2100m highweight with 63.5kg at Trentham in May.

Sculptor is McKenzie's next best hope after a close-up ninth in Final Reality's Ryder Stakes last time out.

Another mount for Leith Innes, Sculptor is one to watch out for when he steps out over more than the 1200m he strikes at Riccarton.

"The 1200m should be a bit short, but he's a beautiful strider and a real professional," said McKenzie.