Young harness racing star joins McCarthy stable

Exciting Victorian three-year-old Hesitate (Sportswriter) has been sold and will join the Inter Dominion-winning harness racing stable of Luke McCarthy.

High-profile NSW owner Mick Harvey has bought the colt, in a move which follows his buying shares in former Grand Circuit stars King Of Swing and Hectorjayjay.

Pleasingly, former trainer-driver Damien Burns and his ownership partner Scott Petrie, will maintain a “share” in Hesitate through his three-year-old season before Harvey takes over completely.

“It’s a partnership for 2025,” Harvey said. “The transaction was swift with Hesitate spending time at Tyrone Abela’s water-walker and rehab property where I’ve already a few horses.

“Damien and Scott have expressed their excitement about racing Hesitate with me through 2025 where Luke McCarthy will focus on all the major three-year-old races.

“He’s such an exciting horse with so much high speed and Luke (McCarthy) is very excited about getting him.”

Burns admitted there some sleepless nights before landing on the deal.

“In the end, it was head over heart,” he admitted. “It was too good an opportunity to turn down.

“I think he’s the sort of horse who could make a TAB Eureka and be competitive as a three-year-old, especially if you use a line through Bay Of Biscay last year.”

Hesitate raced 13 times in his freshman season for six wins, three seconds and banked $77,823.

The son of Sportswriter gained a slot in the inaugural $500,000 Group 1 Protostar at Albion Park. Hesitate finished second in a lead-up race, but drew poorly and had no luck when sixth in the big race.

His bigger wins came in the Premier Stakes at just his second start and Youthful Stakes, which was his most recent start at Melton on November 30.

Burns admits having exciting two-year-old Maxo Mighty emerging helped land on the deal with Hesitate.

“Of course, he’s something to look forward to, but he’s still got to do it on the track,” he said.

“I’d planned to take him and Hesitate to Sydney next month, Hesitate for the Derby and Maxo Mighty for the Sapling Stakes.

“I might just stay home with Maxo Mighty longer now and if we go to NSW, wait for Bathurst.”

Burns is hoping to give Maxo Mighty, an early star of Victoria’s juvenile trials, his first start at Maryborough on February 5.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Victoria