Drivers ready to square that ledger

It’s a rare Saturday night (Apr. 6) when neither Luke McCarthy or Robbie Morris land a harness racing winner at Menangle.

The champion reinsmen will be out to square that ledger when they handle some well-backed runners at the south-western Sydney harness circuit today.

Morris could only manage two second placings on outsiders Luvareschs and Erica on Saturday night while his two best chances Port Au Prince and top square-gaiter Funky Monkey both finished unplaced.

Luke McCarthy also had a disappointing night finishing second with Just As Well, Three Rivers, Don Hugo and Credit Master.

Ironically Luke had to play second fiddle to his stable foreman Jack Callaghan, who landed four winners and relegated Luke to second placing when Sweetheart Bart outlasted stablemate Don Hugo to win one of the night’s features, the $100,000 APG Gold Bullion final for three-year-old colts and geldings.

“Sweetheart Bart’s been just a touch below the real top ones – but even against them he has been really competitive,” said Callaghan.

“His next aim will probably be the Queensland Derby and he’ll now head up that way.”

Meanwhile both Morris and McCarthy should be back in the winners’ circle today.

Morris will look to experienced gelding Red Harbour (Majestic Son) to add to an outstanding standing-start record when he tackles Race 2, where he has the perfect draw in gate one over the 2300m journey.

Eight of the gelding’s 12 wins have been from a stand in New Zealand and the 154-start veteran should be able to make the most of that today and give his rivals something to catch.

Morris will also drive the well-backed Parallel in Race 3, with the gelding at last beginning to live up to the potential.

He will also favour his chances with last-start easy Goulburn winner Big Shadow, drawn nicely in gate four in Race 7.

McCarthy also has an impressive book with his best hope looking to be the improving Rocknroll Hammer in Race 7.

Trained by his wife Belinda, Rocknroll Hammer has won three from eight starts and last-start cleared out to score a 7.3m win over the talented Kowhai Blaze and Shiralee in a 1:54.1 mile rate.

McCarthy also has another up and coming pacer in Rockokoko in Race 6.

In what is probably the best race of the day, Rockokoko ($2.75) has the ideal drawn in gate three but will need to be at his best to hold off the likes of The Big End Oftown and Princess Leia over the 1609m journey.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Court, for Harness Racing New South Wales