The McCarthy juggernaut rolled on at Ballarat last night with their star three-year-old I Am Sam saluting in the second Alabar Victoria Derby heat.
The Queensland family has dominated featuring racing this season with Be Good Johnny and Slipnslide securing five Grand Circuit races between them including the Miracle Mile and SEW-Eurodrive Victoria Cup.
They now have the opportunity to add the nation’s oldest pacing classic to their burgeoning trophy cabinet when 20-year-old Andrew pilots I Am Sam in the $150,000 Derby final at Moonee Valley next Saturday night.
With Andrew in the sulky the Australian Pacing Gold champion began quickly to lead from gate three in last night’s $20,000 qualifier.
Thoughts of an all-the-way victory disappeared out the window mid-race though when the Perfect Art rig was caught napping by the Chris Alford-driven Simon B Anvil.
Thankfully for connections a gap opened up late and I Am Sam ($3.80) was able to spear through to defeat Sydneysider Dereks Pick ($3.70) by 1.7-metres, with Simon B Anvil ($17.10) battling on strongly for third.
“He went good tonight, but it panned out a bit different than we had hoped,” McCarthy said.
“He relaxed so much in front that I couldn’t wake him up in time when Chris came charging around……thankfully the run came when it did.
“The run will do him the world of good tonight and he should be more switched on next week with that one under his belt.
“In saying that he’s got to match the big boys next week so he’ll need to improve a little too.”
A recent acquisition to the John McCarthy barn, I Am Sam, who rated 2:00.1 for the 2200-metre trip, took his impressive record to eight wins and nine minors from 20 starts for stakes of $128,000.
The Paul Fitzpatrick-trained Dereks Pick, who suffered his first defeat in six lifetime appearances, impressed with his performance after tracking three wide over the last 1200-metres from a tough second line draw.
New Zealand’s much-hyped Great Northern Derby winner Monkey King only battled into fourth placing and must now rely upon HRV’s handicapping panel to use their discretionary vote to elevate him into the Derby field.