Hunter driver Jack Callaghan will get his first chance in the Newcastle Mile on Friday night after veteran pacer Mafuta Vautin made the eight-horse field on Monday.
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The Morisset reinsman, now based in Sydney with the powerful Belinda McCarthy stable, was confident on Sunday that the 10-year-old would make the cut and he did after handicappers assessed the 16 nominations on Monday.
Mafuta Vautin, trained by McCarthy, has taken Callaghan to two wins and five placings in 11 starts together. He will be the oldest pacer in the Mile.
"It will be really good. I've never driven in it," said Callaghan, who claimed his first group 1 win at Newcastle last year in the Hunter Region Championship with Kanye Crusader.
"He's been racing really good in the free for alls. Two starts ago he won at Menangle then he was parked out the whole mile and ran third behind Cruz and Balraj, so he's in top form."
Callaghan knew the task ahead in taking on superstar Lochinvar Art but said "it will be good just to be in the race".
Louth Park driver Brad Elder will also be in the group 1 Miracle Mile qualifier after Bright Energy was named among the starters.
The McCarthy-trained six-year-old, owned and bred by Elder's uncle, Micheal Elder, won on Saturday night at Menangle to help his chances of making the field. The combination were set to contest the Mile last year but were scratched by stewards after arriving at the track past the deadline because of traffic.
As expected, Lochinvar Art led entries on Monday. The seven-time group 1 winner and odds-on Miracle Mile favourite will also take on Thunder Dance, Whereyabinboppin, Western Sonador, Turn It Up and Roy Roots jnr-trained former Newcastle horse of the year The Black Prince. Roots jnr also nominated Pitch Perfect, which will be an emergency along with Pump The Brakes.
The barrier draw for the $100,000 Newcastle Mile will be shown live on Sky Racing 1 from 9.30am on Tuesday.
Michael Elder was hoping for luck at the draw to help Bright Energy's hopes of upsetting Lochinvar Art.
"Lochinvar Art has got to be beaten one day, hasn't he?" Elder said of taking on the champion. "Only the retired ones don't get beat.
"The start plays a part and what happens in the middle stages all plays a part. In those races anything can happen, and that's why you've got to be in them."
Entries to miss a place where Ashark, Robbiewillmakeit, Art Tutor, Major Currency, Marty Major and Mach Da Vinci.