KEY POINTS:
The memory of a few seconds in a race nearly a year ago are enough to convince John McCarthy he can defend tonight's Miracle Mile with Be Good Johnny.
The Queensland pacer is favourite to win the A$500,000 ($575,000) sprint at Sydney's Harold Park after some luckless recent efforts and the huge advantage of the inside draw.
That has many suggesting Be Good Johnny could look for an all-the-way win, the most common path to Miracle Mile glory, even though he is not usually a frontrunner.
While trainer-driver McCarthy acknowledges there are pacers with more natural gate speed outside him, he points to last December's Victoria Cup as the best example of why he can, and should, hold the front.
"In that race we had Winforu drawn alongside us and everybody thought he would lead us but we held him pretty easily," said McCarthy.
"That gives me confidence we can be first to the first bend this week and if we are then we will be staying in front."
Be Good Johnny won last year's Miracle Mile after sitting parked and McCarthy says the gelding is at least as fit for tonight's race.
"But more importantly he is a stronger horse this season.
"I think I have the horse now to go forward and take the pressure and still win."
If McCarthy is right then the favourite is the logical horse to beat in a race where key rivals Pay Me Christian (8) and Blacks A Fake (7) have been poorly treated in the barrier draws.
No pacer has won the Miracle Mile from that wide, while only four pacers have won from barrier six.
While both are great horses they face having to come three wide, or at best sit parked, to win so punters who don't favour Be Good Johnny are best looking to Sly Flyin or Slipnslide.
Kiwi pacer Sly Flyin looks the best each-way bet in the race after his remarkable comeback to the track this spring.
His only defeat was in the New Zealand Cup when he was pushed back to last on the home turn, but he has proved either side of that he can win over any distance and in any conditions.
He is one of the few New Zealand pacers with form at the highest level in Australia, he has the gate speed to stay handy from barrier two and will not be bothered by the tight track.
Sly Flyin is unlikely to lead but should settle in the one-one, or at worst, three back on the outer, from where he will only need a clear passage inside the last 400m to be the best each-way bet.
His trainer-driver Tony Herlihy is looking to become the most successful reinsman in Miracle Mile history, sharing that honour of three wins each with Vic Frost at present.
History is against Sly Flyin as only four 8-year-olds have won the race in its 41-year history.
However, the last month has been a resurgent one for the equine veterans such as Fields Of Omagh, Flashing Red and Sly Flyin.
With his proven staying prowess Sly Flyin should benefit from having iron horses like Blacks A Fake and last week's New Zealand Cup winner Flashing Red in the race.
The latter is in the form of his life but is not well suited by the distance or tight track, factors that may be exaggerated by his lack of gate speed.
A better option is Slipnslide, who should have won this race last season after sitting in the one-one, just failing to grab Be Good Johnny.
He is a short course specialist with great gate speed and has a miracle hope of wresting the lead, especially if Smooth Crusa is able to cross Be Good Johnny in the early rush.
Either way Slipnslide will be handy to the pace and his trainer-driver Luke McCarthy, John's son, says the lanky pacer is on his way back to his best after some slight niggles saw him race below his best last start.
