Hart makes the biggest decision of his career sticking with ‘Jeff’

9 March 2024

MICHAEL COURT |

HE’S fearless ON the track.

Yet premier reinsman Cameron Hart admits he has lost a little bit of sleep this week as he prepares for one of the toughest tests of his career.

And as he takes to the track with Hi Manameisjeff in tonight’s $1m Garrards Miracle Mile, there will still be that ever-so-slight nagging doubt in his mind.

Did he pick the right drive for the big one?

Given the choice of trainer Jason Grimson’s two runners, Hi Manameisjeff and Frankie Ferocious, in the end it was the draw that prompted Hart to choose ‘Jeff’ as his drive in the Group 1.

A winner of his past nine starts at Menangle, Hi Manameisjeff has drawn gate seven tonight but comes into gate five with the emergencies out and is tipped to find the front and be the one to beat in the home straight.

Yet one of those horses hoping to dive-bomb him in the straight will be stablemate Frankie Ferocious, a horse his new driver Jack Trainor suggests might be the fastest horse in the race.

“I’m content with the way I’ve gone and it’s not a decision I took lightly,” said hart.

“I took a couple of days to think about it.

“Jeff had the good draw and it was hard to give up the drive on Frankie Ferocious because he has that touch of brilliance about him.

“It scares me a little bit getting off him but now I’ve made my decision I’m pretty comfortable with it and I think Jeff will be the best shot at winning for me.”

Hart said he felt Hi Manameisjeff could find the pegs, which suited him the best.

“Obviously there is speed drawn down low with Speak The Truth and Spirit Of St Louis but I believe we have the speed to find the pegs.

“If we do that I think that will be a huge advantage.

“With Frankie’s draw, I’m just not too sure where he’ll end up and I think that gives Jeff an advantage over him for the majority of the race.”

Hart said there was still a definite possibility Frankie Ferocious could cross the lot of them from his wide draw, such is the speed of the son of Captaintreacherous.

“He definitely has the speed to do that but that might prove detrimental to his finish.

“He is a great horse but he’s stepping up in grade and would need to go to another level tonight.”