Todd McCarthy back in town

The youngest of the all-conquering McCarthy brothers, 28-year-old Todd, has arrived back home on the eve of the biggest event on the Australasian calendar, the 2021 Inter Dominion Grand Final.

Todd, who relocated to North America in late August of last year, will be at Menangle tonight where elder sibling and champion horseman Luke and his wife Belinda appear to have a stranglehold on the $500,000 final.

The couple who operate Cobbitty Equine Farm, near Sydney, have qualified an incredible four horses for the pacers’ final in the gruelling Statewide qualifying heats series at Menangle, Bathurst and Newcastle.

Todd McCarthy arrived back in Australia to enjoy a Christmas break from the constant demands of the US harness racing circuit and has now completed his quarantine requirements.

He will no doubt enjoy the buzz of Inter Dominion finals night, bringing back fond memories of his own Inter Dominion in 2018. McCarthy won with Tiger Tara at TABcorp Park Melton for trainer Kevin Pizzuto.

Other Australian accomplishments on the Todd McCarthy resume include multiple NSW state and metropolitan driving premierships and the 2016 Australasian Young Drivers Championship.

Todd was always keen to follow in the footsteps of older brother Andy, 35, who moved to the U.S. in 2007 and has recorded more than 2900 winners. Since the move only 16 months ago, Todd McCarthy joined his brother in North America’s Top Ten drivers, with successes including Group victories.
Luke McCarthy spent part of 2009 in North America and is best remembered for driving Muscle Hill to victory in the World Trotting Derby.

Recent North American figures have Andy with 312 wins and 505 placings for the season with $8.6 million in purses while Todd is on 336 wins and 524 placings with $7.4 million.

Earlier this year Andy received his American citizenship, while his wife Katrina is also a dual citizen of Australia and the United States.

The brothers are regularly driving at the same tracks and in the same races while Todd often drove against Luke when he was in Australia.

Todd’s home visit – due to COVID-19, the first trip possible since his move – will no doubt add to the excitement for the McCarthy family on Inter Dominion finals night.

The Belinda and Luke McCarthy stable prepared the winner in a record seven of the nine pacers’ heats and have the short-priced favorites, King Of Swing and Expensive Ego in tonight’s final. The pair went through the Inter Dominion heats undefeated, and the stable is also harnessing up qualifiers Sprit Of St Louis and Alta Orlando.

Luke will handle the “King”, with good mate Shepparton horseman David Moran again the fill-in driver for “Ego”. McCarthy’s father John will drive Spirit Of St Louis and young gun Jack Callaghan has been given the job on Alta Orlando.

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink