Australasian Grand Circuit
Stories:   Pacers 2005/2006 Season
    
Leg 2:   Ariadne / Watpac Trans-Tasman   2005/2006 Results   Points
              29/10/2005  Albion Park, Brisbane, Qld  2680m  Mobile Start  $150,000
  
 
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Be Good Johnny has rewarded trainer-driver John McCarthy for his patience when problems as a youngster restricted it racing, by taking out the $150,000 inaugural Ariadne/Watpac Trans-Tasman Group 1 event on Saturday night at Albion Park over Sly Flyin NZ and Dinki Di.  

Having only its 28th start for 21 wins, the now 6YO gelding by Fake Left USA from Fleetwood Mandy and raced by Mrs Narelle McCarthy then allowed Bathurst’s Dinki Di to take up the running, providing McCarthy with the run of the race on the leader’s back, before dashing it away to win clearly. 

The mile rate of 1:56.2 was a new class record for Brisbane over 2680m, which helped bring undone Flashing Red (three wide much of the race), with Double Identity and Rollon Bigred both always toiling back in the field. 

Dinki Di was responsible for a big effort, as it missed the start, and then made up ground stylishly to sweep around its rivals early to grab the lead. Sly Flyin NZ, placed in the Grand Final of the last Inter Dominion, made up plenty of ground along the inside rail to be second for trainer-driver Tony Herlihy. 

Despite being the ‘baby’ of the field in terms of experience, Be Good Johnny was always in the first two of betting following its slashing third to Slipnslide in the previous week’s Queensland Championship despite missing away badly that night. However, trainer-driver McCarthy went into the race believing his main danger was the stablemate, Cobbity Classic, being driven by his son Andrew. 

The step-up in distance was expected to play into the hands of ‘Cobbitty’, a winner on the Grand Circuit last season.  Cobbitty Classic failed to make the most of starting from gate 4, before moving forward to race in the ‘death’ when Flashing Red was also seeking that position.  

 

Be Good Johnny

It was the only member of the three pacers the McCarthy family started in the race that was somewhat disappointing. Luke McCarthy, who won the Queensland Championship the previous week with Slipnslide, again raced in the firing line and battled away under pressure to hang on for fourth. 

There seems little doubt that the Queensland representatives to have contested the first two Grand Circuit events for 2005/06 provided the best depth to Group 1 racing to ever carry the flag for the Sunshine State. 

It could be said that several Victorian and New South Wales stars were missing. However, when a field includes the likes of the successful Kiwi performers Sly Flyin NZ and Jagged Account NZ, and proven Grand Circuit pacers such as Double Identity and Cobbitty Classic, and they are well held, Queensland pacing is in a good position following the upsurge in its breeding program in recent years. 

Rob Pearson, Albion Park Secretary/Manager, said the build-up to the meeting was so good that all 600 seats in Silks Restaurant had been booked by the Thursday. “We were delighted with the crowd, and the racing, while our track is performing extremely well after some renovations to the surface. 

 “Our sponsors of the new race were so pleased with how it all went off they were quick to tell us they will sponsor the race again next year,” said Pearson. 

 

All Time Pacing and Trotting Records pre-2001 please refer to the Australian Harness Racing Annual.

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