Bailey to make the move from Victoria to NSW

Bailey McDonough will soon join the New South Wales harness racing driving ranks after taking up a position with the powerful Luke and Belinda McCarthy operation at Cobbitty Equine Farm.

McDonough, a Group 1 winner in the sulky earlier this year behind star trotter Just Believe, will leave his position with Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars sometime next month before a holiday back home in Western Australia.

The 25-year-old is then expected to start work for Team McCarthy in July.

McDonough moved to Victoria from WA in July 2021 and joined his father Allan at Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin’s training operation on the outskirts of Ballarat.

He then spent time with David Aiken in Avenel before taking up an opportunity with Tubbs and Sugars at Myrniong.

McDonough said it was his long-term goal to enter the training ranks, but said his initial focus would be on establishing himself as a driver in NSW.

“Initially I’m just going to settle in and find my feet,” he said.

“Their style of racing around Menangle really appeals to me, so I’ll drive my focus on that and assess where I go from there.”

McDonough has driven 296 winners from 3000 drives in his career so far, highlighted by Just Believe’s Group 1 success in the Australian Trotting Grand Prix during February.

by Tim O’Connor, for Harness Racing Victoria