On His Way To The Top

Monster; Terrorway will make a big impression on the Grand Circuit this season for John McCarthy and Kevin Jeavons.

Terrorway has clearly stamped himself as the rising star at the elite level.

The giant gelding stepped out in public for the first time today at Albion Park (Tuesday) since his star staying performance during the Brisbane Winter Carnival when he claimed the Gr.1 $100,000 Blacks A Fake downing Victorian hero Smoken Up after sitting parked.

Terrorway won a 1660m trial in a time of 1;55.7 and won by an ever expanding margin of 23.75m.

It was clinical, it was crushing.

This is a horse destined for bigger and better things and the new Grand Circuit season will prove to be his springboard for success.

The Gr.1 $200,000 Garrards Queensland Pacing Championship at Albion Park on October 20 will be the first of many feature events contested this season.

“He’s pretty special this horse and I honestly believe that we still haven’t got to the bottom of him just yet, after a really good break, he will come back even better than he is now.” McCarthy declared.

Terrorway didn’t come cheap, arriving on Australian shores boasting solid credentials winning all six starts before being purchased by Perth businessman Kevin Jeavons.

The Western Terror gelding joined the powerful McCarthy team and quickly proved himself as an ample replacement for the likes of recently retired superstars Be Good Johnny and Mr Feelgood.

During his initial campaign in Australia, Terrorway won a further 10 races from 16 starts and was desperately unlucky in a few others.

The Brisbane Winter Carnival clearly illustrated the enormous potential that McCarthy witnessed first hand on that cold and windy day in the south island of New Zealand after being scouted by Jeavons.

Terrorway won the Gr.3 $45,000 4 & 5yo Championship plus the Gr.1 $100,000 Blacks A Fake while he went to the line full of running in the Gr.2 $60,000 Sunshine Sprint after drawing poorly.

“We knew he was special but the Brisbane campaign really made a few people sit up and take notice, he won in 1;52.6 at his first Brisbane start and he should’ve won all three features with more luck after that.

If I was able to give him 8 to 12 weeks off, I know he would come back so strong and more mature but with the programming, you can’t afford to do that because they will miss too much.

After the Queensland spring, he will follow the Grand Circuit with the Inter Dominion and Miracle Mile the big end of season targets in Sydney.”

McCarthy will bypass the opening leg of the Queensland features, the Gr.3 $30,000 Be Good Johnny Sprint at Albion Park opting to start in the Gr.2 $75,000 Kevin & Kay Seymour Gold Coast Cup fresh.

Terrorway is likely to trial again before the Gold Coast Cup on October 13.

“I’m leaning to that plan but you never know at this point, he trialled very well today but he’s still a little chubby.

Motu Crusader will start in the Be Good Johnny Sprint first-up and then Terrorway and Washakie will start the following week at the Gold Coast.

All three pacers will contest the Gold Coast Cup and the QPC before we move south.”

The McCarthy stable have won 5 of the last 7 Queensland Pacing Championships.