Mighty mare chasing a magic return

New South Wales’ 2022 open class Mare of the Year Fairy Tinkabell (Big Jim) makes her return to Tabcorp Park Menangle on Saturday night (Apr. 15) in a bid to get back into the harness racing winners’ circle.

The Belinda McCarthy-trained seven-year-old has been on the road, firstly contesting the Bathurst Mayors Cup before not being too far away when finishing sixth in the Wagga Pacers Cup last Saturday night.

Three starts back Fairy Tinkabell came from midfield and was flooding home when she ran third in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II mile on February 25, beaten just over eight metres by Braeview Kelly.

Regular stable driver Luke McCarthy is back aboard the mare this weekend and has an impeccable record, combining with Fairy Tinkerbell to win five of her 16 career starts.

“She is a beautiful mare to have in our stable,” said Luke.

“The team at home has done a great job with her and I have been fortunate to have driven her to some nice wins.

“It was actually a massive thrill to run third in the Queen Elizabeth II Mile.

“We have always had the opinion that she is right up there with some of the better open-class mares currently racing and her run that night was super.

“The Rees family who race Fairy Tinkabell are very passionate about the sport and they got a real buzz out of that performance, so it was a great result for all of us.

“She was absolutely luckless at Wagga last Saturday as she struck trouble with 600 metres to run when Jack (Callaghan) was just about to make his move.

“If that did not happen, the way the race was run, I really do think she would have gone very close to winning it.

“I have no doubt that Belinda will have her spot-on for Saturday night’s race and she will go close to winning.”

Belinda and Luke have two runners engaged at Penrith tonight, hoping that both New Zealand-bred pacers can find some better form.

Charm Offensive (Race 2) had a hard run when she finished midfield at Penrith a fortnight ago and despite drawing wide in gate six tonight the McCarthys are hoping for a more forward showing from her.

Mossman (Race 5) will start from gate four and is having his second run for the stable and is a likely improver.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW