McCarthy stable to bounce back

After one of their quietest Breeders Challenge carnivals for several years, the Belinda and Luke McCarthy harness racing stable can bounce back with a winning double at Tabcorp Park Menangle on Saturday (Nov. 5).

With the likes of Majestic Cruiser and Rock N Roll Doo campaigning in New Zealand’s at their big Cup meeting on Tuesday, Expensive Ego (Rock N Roll Heaven) can make up for losing his mantle as possibly the best pacer in Australia when he contests tonight’s $30,600 Nick Robin Free-For-All.

Champion reinsman Luke McCarthy was disappointed that Expensive Ego blotted his copybook when he finished a well-beaten seventh, beaten more than 10 metres in the $300,000 Victoria Cup last month, after a first-up win at Menangle.

That earlier effort had McCarthy comparing Expensive Ego to his recently-retired superstar King Of Swing and many expected him to assume that mantle, despite losing last year’s Inter Dominion final in the stewards’ room to Boncel Benjamin after being first across the line.

Drawn the outside of the front line in tonight’s 2300m feature, Expensive Ego’s main danger is expected to come from stablemate A GS White Socks, to be driven by an in-form Jack Callaghan.

Former South Australian pacer Artillery is also poised to fire for the stable in Race 2, where he has been installed a $4.50 early favourite, with Luke in the bike.

Artillery scored at Albion Park in June before spelling and has finished just behind the placegetters in two sub 1:50 miles behind Better Isolate at his past two starts and is expected to be the one to beat tonight.

Even with just five runners at the meeting, the stable will also be looking for a big run from stable newcomer Shady Azz, who arrives from Aaron Dunn’s Victoria stable in fine fettle following a string of placings.

Meanwhile Menangle trainer Jason Grimson expects a return to form for Majestic Cruiser in Tuesday’s New Zealand Cup.

Grimson has declared he will have Majestic Cruiser “spot-on” for the Cup.

“You’ll see the best of him . . . I think he’s a great chance,” said Grimson.

“I wouldn’t have sent him [to New Zealand] if I didn’t think so.

“There was not one moment on Saturday night, despite his unplaced run, when I thought about scrapping the trip.”

Grimson then plans to set Majestic Cruiser and Saturday night’s Len Smith Mile winner I Cast No Shadow for a tilt at this year’s Inter Dominion in Victoria.

For complete race fields, click here.

by Michael Court, for HRNSW