Premiership-winning trainer Roy Roots jnr gained a second starter in the Newcastle Mile on Wednesday when the Shane Sanderson-trained Whereyabinboppin was scratched from Friday night's race.
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Roots jnr already had former Newcastle horse of the year The Black Prince in gate four and he now has Pitch Perfect in three after the first emergency joined the eight-horse field for the group 1 Miracle Mile qualifier.
Pitch Perfect would have been considered unlucky to miss a start initially given he beat Whereyabinboppin when they clashed on February 6 at Menangle.
Whereyabinboppin finished 30 metres away from winner Cruz in that run, which was his most recent start, and the performance was queried by stewards.
Roots jnr, a Newcastle premiership winner when based at Keinbah, now trains at Central Mangrove on the Central Coast.
The Black Prince was third in the $100,000 Newcastle Mile for Roots last year when just 4.5 metres away from winner Majordan, which ran a track record 1:50:7.
An $18 chance with TAB on Wednesday, The Black Prince will have Robbie Morris in the gig on Friday night. Leonard Cain takes the drive on Pitch Perfect, which was a $101 shot.
Seven-time group 1 winner Lochinvar Art was a $1.45 favourite after drifting from $1.30 following his extreme outside draw on Tuesday. Second-elect Turn It Up firmed from $5 to $3.70.
The race is at 9.04pm.