Miracle Man (right), with Brian Harding aboard, holds off a stout challenge from Distinctly Irish (Wesley Henry) to land the Governor-General's Stakes over 2000 metres at Caymanas Park on Heroes Day, October 16. Miracle Man won by a neck. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

TODAY'S 28TH running of the prestigious Red Stripe Superstakes over 2000 metres has attracted 11 starters, including three previous winners in PITTACUS (2003), DISTINCTLY IRISH (2004) and MIRACLE MAN (2005).

This situation is rather unique in the annals of the race and while it could be said that the emerging super horse, MIRACLE MAN (Allen Maragh up), will prove hard to beat, having not lost a race since winning last year's Superstakes, it will be interesting to see if either DISTINCTLY IRISH or PITTACUS could occupy the first three places.

There is a connection of sorts among them. The Anthony Nunes-trained PITTACUS, running at odds of 46-1, beat the then favourite, DISTINCTLY IRISH, over 1600 metres on September 27, while MIRACLE MAN was fully extended to beat a lightly weighted DISTINCTLY IRISH over the Superstakes distance on October 16 in the Governor-General's Stakes, a race in which PITTACUS finished 8 3/4 lengths fourth.

At the revised weights, the Allan 'Billy' Williams-trained MIRACLE MAN enjoys a substantial swing in the weights with Philip Feanny's DISTINCTLY IRISH (Winston Griffiths up) and PITTACUS to be ridden by Richie Mitchell.

Completing the field are the three-year-old colt ALLIED FORCE (Andrew Ramgeet) who won the St. Leger over the distance on July 1; AD INFINITUM (Brian Harding), ROYAL RUN (Trevor Simpson), GOOD COMPANY (Charles Hussey), HERECOMESFUDGIE (Wesley Henry), NATURAL DESIRE (Dane Nelson), UNTOUCHABLE (Devon A. Thomas) and the lone filly, MYLEGACY (Oneil Mullings).

- O.C.