The SEW Eurodrive Miracle Mile is being promoted as the best ever and, for mine, there's no doubt about it.

The followers of harness racing are in absolute raptures leading into Saturday's Miracle Mile at Tabcorp Park Menangle.

Including the two emergencies, the 2010 Miracle Mile field has amassed more than $15 million in prize money.

Four horses have already surpassed the magical $1 million mark in winnings, including Blacks a Fake ($4 million), defending Miracle Mile winner Monkey King ($3 million), Mr Feelgood ($2 million) and Smoken Up ($1.3 million).

There isn't a trotter in Australia going better than Mr Feelgood following his wins in the winter against Blacks a Fake in Queensland. Driver Luke McCarthy is aware Mr Feelgood's task of winning from outside the eight-horse field is tough but we shouldn't rule out something spectacular.

McCarthy knows Mr Feelgood has a lot of pace from the barrier and he won't rule out going forward in the first 200-metres in a bid to lead. McCarthy said: "If we are four or five lengths off the leaders on the home turn, we won't be able to catch them." It's worth noting that Mr Feelgood has been backed from $9 to $7 with TAB Sportsbet Fixed Odds.

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Four-time Inter Dominion champion, Blacks a Fake, hasn't been tested fully from the start by trainer-driver, Natalie Rasmussen, since he developed atrial fibrillation and wilted dramatically in a Brisbane race during the winter. Rasmussen, though, is confident Blacks a Fake still has what it takes to lead from gate 2.

Star Victorian pacer, Smoken Up, goes into the Miracle Mile off a blistering trial last Monday night at Tabcorp Park in Melton. Smoken Up's mile rate was 1.54 and the final half in 54.3 seconds. Trainer-driver, Lance Justice, told me he couldn't believe how much Smoken Up had in reserve and while he's attempted to win this race a few times, Justice says his favourite horse has what it takes to win one of Australia's great harness races.

Justice is of the opinion Smoken Up is peaking for the Miracle Mile this year. The NSW TAB is spicing up betting on the race with a $55,243 First 4 jackpot.

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Outside the SEW Eurodrive Miracle Mile, the NSW Trotters Mile should be a beauty, as well. For two years Sundon's Gift has been dominating our trotting ranks but right now there's a new kid on the block called Downunder Muscles.

Leading trainer-driver, Chris Alford, is thrilled with the condition of Downunder Muscles following a trial at Melton on Monday night. Another major plus for the supporters of Downunder Muscles is gate 3 compared with Sundon's Gift starting from the extreme outside draw.

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Now to the Festival of Perth Racing at Ascot on Saturday and Sydney trainer Rick Worthington has been thrilled with the preparation of Whitefriars before the $750,000 Winterbottom Stakes. The Salinger Stakes winner has had a couple of important gallops on the Ascot course proper and Saturday's jockey, Damien Oliver, couldn't be happier. Worthington told me Whitefriars is as fit as he can be.

Also lining up in the Winterbottom Stakes is one time Perth star sprinter, Dante's Volonte. Trainer Simon Barrass says the horse trialled strongly at Bunbury last Friday and looks in great order.

Dante's Volonte has been dogged by a string of hiccups during the past 12 months including a sequence of allergies. Happily right now, Barrass feels everything is under control.