GARRY Schwenke goes to tomorrow’s Queensland Cup at Eagle Farm with plenty of confidence that his four-year-old mare Cuban will go the distance.

As for winning, he said he and wife Joann and fellow owners were living a dream and hoping for a miracle.

Like the Melbourne Cup, many outstanding horses simply have little energy left at the end of a 3200m race.

Schwenke trains the horse in Warwick and reckons Cuban starting in sprint races was a bit like marathon star Robert de Castella coming up against Carl Lewis in a 100m sprint.

“Cuban can’t sprint but she can stay,” Garry said.

He is hoping Cuban has plenty of energy in the straight in the Queensland Cup just like de Castella has at the end of a marathon.

If many of the other better-credentialed horses don’t get the distance, Schwenke hopes his mare can feature in the finish and place.

He swims the mare for training as well as regular track work.

Cuban was ridden by Brad Wallace into fourth in a 2240m maiden at Doomben on Wednesday.

“We received $650 in prizemoney which pays for the acceptance fee for the Queensland Cup,” Garry said.

Races are rare over the 3200m distance so Cuban is yet untested over the distance.

“We are about to find out,” he said.

The mare was purchased at a sale on the Gold Coast for $3000 after Joann picked her out and described her as a beautiful horse.

The Schwenkes are co-owners with Brisbane friends David Amedee, Jason Barr and their wives.

Garry is not suggesting any Warwick racing fans put all their hard-earned on Cuban tomorrow.

“Put a dollar each way and do it for sentimental reasons,” he said.

Cuban has drawn barrier six and will be ridden by Tim Bell, a top NSW apprentice on loan in Queensland.