During the 1984 Missile Stakes, jockey Peter Miers did not anticipate a victory with Plus Vite, nor did he foresee that this race would become his defining moment. As Miers approached the starting line on his 200-1 first-starter, amidst heavy rainfall at Rosehill, it became evident that this Group 3 race (Gr.2 since 2014) would be extraordinary. During the preparation for the race, an unforeseen circumstance arose when the barrier stalls became severely stuck in the mud, rendering them usless. This bizarre situation posed a challenge, as the 1200m chute at Rosehill was now blocked and the gates rendered unusable. Consequently, the race had to be relocated to the main course. However, the persistent issue with the bogged barriers remained, prompting the question of how to start the race fairly and effectively.

A traditional flag start was proposed. However, prior to the commencement of the race, the offical starter, Billy Dale, presented a novel concept to ensure a fair start for all participants. It came to light that the starter lacked prior experience in conducting a flag start, so his proposed method involved each barrier attendant approaching the starting line with a horse in each hand. Upon dropping the flag, the field would be released to begin the race.

Miers aboard Plus Vite chimed in,

"You can’t do that Billy, you'll kill some of these blokes.

They tried positioning the attendants but it just didn’t work, the horses were going sideways, blokes were falling over, it was a mess. Miers, with experience riding from flag starts in the north of England, deployed his well-honed organisational skills and stepped in with some helpful suggestions;

"Billy, don’t do that, just line us all up. Haven’t you done it before? Just send us back, and we will form a line and just walk up towards you"

At this stage, the crafty Miers also helped himself to a spot one off the fence on the likely leader. Starter Billy Dale then informed everyone of the plan, and as the jockeys positioned their horses approaching the starting point, he realised he had forgotten the bloody flag!!! A bogged set of starting gates and a flag start with no flag: the Missile Stakes of 1984 seemed doomed before it was even run. 

Miers may not have expected to win first-up on the diminutive grey by Bletchingly, but he did lobby Bart Cummings for the ride. Having ridden him in trackwork, Miers thought he was sitting on probably the best maidener in Australia. Determined to preserve odds for the planned maiden sting one start after the Missile practice run, Miers proudly recalls how he threw off big bookie John Rogan when quizzed about the horse’s ability. As Miers arrived at the racecourse Rogan walked up to him and enquired about the the horses ability. He had heard it wasn't half bad, however Miers deflected the interest and just said, "nah, it’s having its first start"

But really, Bart Cummings didn’t even know if it could run in the wet or not, although we all know that all grey horses can run in the wet.

Once Dale had rearranged the field following the first botched start, he found a jacket that would suffice as flag and the field was away, albeit with rank outsider Zany Zephyr left tailed off by a mile. Plus Vite flew from the start while others languished in the mud unable to gain early traction. He led and travelled well, and after turning in it was Real Dream swinging in close but being scrubbed along. When Miers and Plus Vite got to the 200m they went for it....there was nobody near them.

Miers had secured a Group three victory, marking the highest odds for a stakes winner in Bart Cummings' distinguished career. However, the jockey was about to encounter one of the most intense displays of disapproval from a racecourse crowd in recent history. As Miers returned to the winners enclosure on Plus Vite, it was reported at the time to be "one of the most hostile and prolonged demonstrations ever heard on a Sydney racetrack." Tommy Smith’s race favourite, Pashenka’s Gem was unplaced and the confused punters were baying for blood. There was a lot of bewilderment about the race because they hadn’t gone from the barriers and the crowd were booing and jeering as the field returned. Almost as unimpressed with proceedings was chief steward John Schreck who bore much of the venom alongside Billy Dale. They deliberated for 10 minutes before declaring the correct weight.

Miers ‘maiden certainty’ had been ruined, but Plus Vite never fulfilled the promise he had shown in that upset win. Plagued by hoof problems, Plus Vite was transferred to Bob Hoysted, to be set for an Oakleigh Plate with beach work. The sprinter won just one more race for his new trainer, at Caulfield early the next year. 

Bogged barriers and a ‘flagless’ flag start made for a comedy of errors, and a massive upset in the Sydney race