Team McCarthy hoping to make Miracle Mile history

The harness racing training and driving combination of Belinda and Luke McCarthy will be out to make history on Saturday night when they contest the $1M Garrards Miracle Mile with their star pacer Expensive Ego (Rock N Roll Heaven).

Luke will be chasing his fourth win in succession in Australasia’s richest race after he combined with champion entire King Of Swing to take out the past three editions.

And it was Luke’s wife Belinda who trained King Of Swing on the last two occasions after taking over the training responsibilities at Cobbitty Equine from Craig Cross, who was at the helm for the King’s first success in 2020.

Luke admits that he will head to the barrier a little more relaxed on Saturday night, explaining that the pressure of driving the favoured runner in such an important race was quite draining.

That pressure will be much less when he partners Expensive Ego, who has drawn gate eight, relieving him of the lofty expectations from previous occasions.

“Ego is a high-quality pacer who has been a brilliant horse to us and his owner,” said McCarthy.

“But we will certainly head into this year’s Miracle Mile as an underdog after drawing such a hard gate.

“There is no doubt in my mind though that Ego can still win the race and I will be doing my level best to give him the best trip that I can.”

The disappointment was clearly evident on the face of owner Jason Grice when he drew out gate 10 at last Sunday’s barrier draw.

The past 18 months has been a roller-coaster ride for Grice and the McCarthys after having the 2021 Inter Dominion final taken away from them after Expensive Ego was first past the post only to lose the race on protest.

“There is no doubt he should have won a feature race by now,” said Luke.

“He has produced some mammoth performances and has simply been unlucky.

“Hopefully he can capture a deserved win for Jason on Saturday night.”

McCarthy was born and raised in Bathurst, where his father John operated a butcher shop.

Over the next month the attention will focus on the central west city when it hosts the annual Gold Crown Carnival.

Tonight Bathurst will host a 10-race program with much interest centred around the two-year-old races.

Of those engaged, both Misterfourthousand and Dream Melody are expected to perform well in their respective races.

For complete Menangle race entries, click here.

by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW