Luke McCarthy’s double at Bathurst

Driver Luke McCarthy landed a double when he piloted firstly Discernment (Captaintreacherous) and then Ripples (Bettors Delight) in their respective heats of the Gold Tiara at Bathurst on Wednesday night.

Both fillies were highly impressive.

In a classic front running driver McCarthy took the hot favourite Discernment who is trained by Sam Barker to the front and she travelled smoothly throughout. Wat On Earth had the trail behind the leader and as Discernment rolled off the fence an inside run presented.

DISCERNMENT MAR 19 BATHURST HEAT 5 GOLD TIARA 

However Discernment kept going bounded clear to win by over 12 metres from Wat on Earth with Line of Courage a further five metres away third and a winning mile rate of 1.54.3.

McCarthy praised Discernment “She’s a beautifully mannered filly showed good speed her trial was really good in Victoria before she come up. There was a lot of confidence in the stable.”

“She felt like could have gone faster and she ran a really good time. So she’s going to be a great chance in the Final.”

McCarthy’s double came through the Emma Stewart trained Ripples (Bettors Delight) who was having her first race. Due to an impressive recent heat win at Melton Ripples was a long odds favourite.

In a copy book drive Ripples was temporarily three wide early before she eased to the front and from then on she never looked likely to be beaten. Myra’s Mint ran on well for second after coming from fifth position with Favoured Grace in third position. Ripple’s mile rate was a credible 1.54.6.

Not surprisingly McCarthy was praiseworthy of Ripples. “This filly just felt super and has good manners.”

It will be a difficult decision for McCarthy as to which filly he drives in the Final.

In the opening heat Emma Stewart’s filly Willow’s Girl (Sweet Lou) saw off her rivals with a stylish all the way win pleasing driver Cameron Hart. Although her mile rate of 1.55.4 was slower than some of the other heats, Willow’s Girl recorded the fastest last quarter of 26.6 seconds.

Stewart almost pulled off a treble when her other filly Open The Gates (Downbytheseaside) narrowly held off Calypso Rainbow (Captain Crunch) in a stirring fourth heat. However stewards deemed that Calypso Rainbow was inconvenienced and reversed the placings. Nonetheless Stewart will still have a strong hand in the Final with Willow’s Girl and Ripples.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink