King Of Swing chasing a place in history

Defending two-time Miracle Mile champion King Of Swing cleared his first hurdle, with room to spare, when the draws for this weekend’s harness racing Allied Express and Schweppes Sprint fields were decided this afternoon.

Chasing a place in history by becoming the first horse to win three Miracle Miles, Luke and Belinda McCarthy’s champion pacer has drawn ideally in gate two for the second of the $100,000 sprints, which guarantees a berth in the Miracle Mile to the first two across the line.

Polemarker The Black Prince gets a serious shot at qualifying as well as he is certain to take the trail behind King Of Swing, who has rarely been beaten when he leads in any race.

Other chances include Inter Dominion winner Boncel Benjamin, Newcastle Mile runner-up Balraj, Max Delight, Cruz Bromac, Bundoran and Jay OK in what should be a battle royale to finish close enough to be considered for an invitation into ‘The Big Dance’.

The first of the $100,000 sprints will be no less exciting with McCarthy’s talented pair of Spirit Of St Louis and Expensive Ego poised to fight it out with the likes of Zeuss Bromac, Line Up, Triple Eight and Majestic Cruiser.

Luke McCarthy has also declared Expensive Ego and Spirit Of St Louis as ‘spot-on’ for their major challenge of earning a spot in the $1million race to be run Saturday week at Tabcorp Park Menangle.

“Expensive Ego pulled up well and last weekend’s defeat, well, that style or racing just did not suit him,” said the star reinsman. “The owners thought he might have had enough this prep but I disagreed and sometimes he can be a bit dour but his Inter Dom runs were amazing and I’m happy to let the horse do the talking this weekend.

“The King is great. He and Spirit Of St Louis had a trial on Friday and they worked really well. “Louis is getting better every preparation and it’s just been progressive and he has continued to get stronger and now he’s really stepping up to the challenge.”

With no Lochinvar Art there to contend after he was sent for a spell, Team McCarthy looks on track to get at least three runners into the Miracle Mile.

Fields for the two sprints, in barrier order, are:

Group One $100,000 SCHWEPPES SPRINT (Race 4)

1. Bettor Call Me by Bettor’s Delight – Sofia Arvidsson (2^nd em)
2. Like A Wildfire by Big Jim –
3. Triple Eight by American Ideal – Greg Sugars
4. Mach Da Vinci by Art Major – Blake Fitzpatrick (1^st em)
5. Malcolms Rhythm by Art Major  – Josh Aiken
6. Majestic Cruiser by Art Major – Cameron Hart
7. Spirit Of St Louis by Sweet Lou – Jack Callaghan
8. Line Up by Bettor’s Delight – Darren Binskin
9. Our Uncle Sam by Sportswriter – Anthony Frisby
10. Expensive Ego by Rock N Roll Heaven – Luke McCarthy
11. Zeuss Bromac by Bettor’s Delight – Gavin Fitzpatrick
12. Rock N Roll Doo by Rock N Roll Heaven – Michael Stanley

Group One $100,000 ALLIED EXPRESS SPRINT (Race 5)

1. The Black Prince by Bettor’s Delight – Robert Morris
2. King Of Swing by Rocknroll Hanover – Luke McCarthy
3. Cruz Bromac by Falcon Seelster – Cameron Hart
4. Supreme Dominator by Bettor’s Delight – James Herbertson
5. Max Delight by Bettor’s Delight – Chris Alford
6. Jay OK by A Rocknroll Dance – Gavin Fitzpatrick
7. Mach Shard by Mach Three – Jack Callaghan
8. Bundoran by Lincoln Royal – Amanda Turnbull
9. Bettor Call Me by Bettor’s Delight – Sofia Arvidsson (2^nd em)
10. Mach Da Vinci by Art Major – Blake Fitzpatrick (1^st em)
11. Balraj by Art Major – Jack Trainor
12. Boncel Benjamin by Grinfromeartoear – Josh Gallagher

Club Menangle