McCarthy’s Victorian continues when his new tempo sensation Kingman (Always B Miki) looks to extend his harness racing dominance to 4-0 over Queensland champions Leap To Fame in tomorrow night’s $100,000 Group 2 Ballarat Cup (2710m).
The Cobbitty rider also has two of Australia’s best mares, Eye Keep Smiling and Steno, in the first leg of a Victoria mare’s triple crown, the $50,000 Make Mine Cullen (1710m) at Ballarat.
Tomorrow night at Menangle, McCarthy has six runners, led by his reigning Miracle Mile hero Don Hugo in a fascinating PJ Hall free-for-all (1609m).
Don Hugo, who defeated Leap To Fame in the Group 1 Blacks A Fake in Brisbane last month, has gate two and will stalk exciting former Kiwi pacer and likely leader Rakero Rocket (gate one) every step of the way.
Rakero Rocket underlined his potential when he scorched the second-fastest mile in Australian history, a 1min47.3sec, to win on his second run for trainer Jason Grimson at Menangle 13 days ago.
Grimson has declared him a great Miracle Mile player.
With McCarthy committed to the big Ballarat moves, young man Jack Callaghan will take over as Don Hugo.
Callaghan recently returned to NSW to work for McCarthy after stints in the US and Western Australia.
Don Hugo is down from $1.80 to $2 with strong support for Rakero Rocket ($2 to $1.70).
At Ballarat, Kingman will face a tougher task than last week, with Leap To Fame given a barrier advantage this week.
Leap To Fame is expected to work across a wide draw and find the lead, while Kingman is the lone runner in the back row from gate eight.
“The record says we are 3-0 against him, but Leap To Fame has suffered a huge defeat every time. He has been the benchmark for three years and the way the draws have been made will be very difficult to beat.”
“But Kingman has come through the past week very well and he is a horse that is still on the rise.”
McCarthy said Eye Keep Smiling, who won 12 of 14 starts against her own gender last year, was poised to win in her first start since September 6.
“She certainly is. She’s been itching to go for three weeks or more, but there hasn’t been a suitable race for her yet,” he said.
McCarthy will pilot Eye Keep Smiling with Nathan Jack aboard Steno, a 23-race, nearly $620,000 winner, in her first run for McCarthy’s stable.
“She’s all class and really had a trial last week. It’s a big first test and she’ll improve on everything she does, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she gives it a big shock,” McCarthy said.
Through Adam Hamiltonfor Harness Racing Australia
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