King Of Swing connections following his Blacks A Fake victory Photo by Dan Costello
Grand Circuit champion King Of Swing capped the 2020 Albion Park Harness Racing Club Summer Carnival in great style.
Under rain-soaked skies, King Of Swing thrilled local fans with a breathtaking display in the Gr.1 $175,660 TAB Blacks A Fake when easily accounting for Colt Thirty One and Turn It Up in the 2680m feature.
Prepared by Craig Cross and handled by brilliant reinsman Luke McCarthy, the $1.50 favourite rated 1:58.5 while ripping his final 400m in a stunning 26.2 seconds.
For McCarthy, it was his ninth victory in the state’s biggest event.
It was a cause for double celebration for connections with the victory confirming him as the 2019/20 Australian Pacing Gold Grand Circuit champion.
King Of Swing is raced by Beth Richardson, Mark Congerton, Go Racing (Mick Harvey), Karen Hall, Glen Moore, Sylvie Macgregor plus Rob & Frank Patriarca.
Fittingly, the field was led out by the recently retired and 2017 Blacks A Fake winner Hectorjayjay.
The Gr.2 $30,660 TAB Trotters Sprint also went the way of the Cross/McCarthy combination with the Queensland owned Arnold leading throughout in a time of 1:55.8 – just outside of the track record held by Greg The Great at 1:55.1.
Arnold is raced by Jeroen Nieuwenburg.
In total, the Cobbitty Equine team of Cross and McCarthy scored a quartet of victories with Lets Katchmeifucan (TAB Venue Mode Final) and Franco Hampton (Jack Waltisbuhl Memorial Final) also proving successful.
The $21,160 Bill Dixon was taken out by the beautifully bred Straddie for Charlie Cini and Shane Graham, the half-brother to millionaire pacer For A Reason defeated race favourite Bomb Suit in a time of 1:55.0.
The Cini/Graham duo also scored with in-form mare Chevrons Reward later in the program.
Despite the inclement weather throughout the night, the highly anticipated Jockeys and Drivers Challenge Final was taken out by Baylee Nothdurft after sailing down the outside to defeat Georgina Cartwright.
Nothdurft donated a winner’s cheque of $1000 to his charity of choice, Beyond Blue.
NOVA 106.9FM Radio personality and breakfast show host David ‘Luttsy’ Lutteral was again trackside and joined oncourse broadcaster Chris Barsby to ‘call’ the Jockeys/Drivers Final.
Club officials were thrilled with crowd numbers, turnover figures and race night coverage provided by Radio TAB, SKY Channel and the Seven Network throughout the carnival.
Racing returns next Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.