McCarthy can steal the Menangle spotlight

Back from a lengthy stint competing in Queensland, champion reinsman Luke McCarthy can steal back the harness racing spotlight at Tabcorp Park Menangle tonight.

McCarthy will drive three favourites and one perennial Menangle favourite, Cash N Flow (Mach Three), on the eight-race program.

Robbie Morris, Jack Trainor, Rickie Alchin and Brad Hewitt returned to Sydney earlier than McCarthy and have already shown the benefit of ‘thawing out’ in Queensland during the winter.

Morris, in particular, has been in fabulous touch, landing a winning double at Menangle last Saturday night and continuing his run with a treble at Newcastle on Monday afternoon and another win with Vinette at Penrith on Thursday night and heads to Club Menangle tonight with several serious chances, including Patsy Valentine (Race 2) and Funky Monkey (Race 8).

Still McCarthy and his wife Belinda continue to be one of Sydney’s most reliable stables and will again look to dominate at Menangle tonight.

Luke’s best drive appears to be lightly-raced colt Dashing in Race 5, listed as an early $2.25 favourite for the $30,600 NSW-Bred two-year-olds’ final.

By Art Major out of former champion racemare Frith, Dashing has had just four starts for one win and two placings.

With Dashing’s regular reinsman Jack Callaghan on holidays, Luke hops into the gig and will be looking to slot into the running line and come with a ‘dash’ in the straight and annex another feature for Sydney’s leading stable.

Londonderry trainer Michael Xuereb was also quick to sign up McCarthy to drive his improving gelding I Break The Line ($2.75) in Race 4, the $30,600 NSW-Bred three-year-olds’ final.

Josh Gallagher has been having a great run with I Break The Line, winning three on the trot, but is out of action tonight, giving McCarthy another plum drive.

Gallagher used I Break The Line’s gate speed to work forward and score an all-the-way win at Menangle last week and McCarthy will be looking to do the same again tonight as the scratchings mean he comes into gate four.

And McCarthy also renews ties with one of his old favourites, veteran gelding Cash N Flow in the night’s other feature, the $30,600 Club Menangle Alf Phillis Free-For-All.

This might be a tough test as Cash N Flow tries to extend his lead as Menangle’s most prolific winner.

He’s up against two in-form opponents in South Coast Arden ($1.90) and Port Au Prince ($4), in what should be a great battle of tactics.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Court, for HRNSW