KING Has His Rivals IN 'CHECK'

DEFENDING two-time Miracle Mile champion King Of Swing cleared his first hurdle, with room to spare, when the draws for this

weekend’s Allied Express and Schweppes Sprint fields were decided this afternoon.

Chasing a place in history by becoming the first horse to win three Miracle Miles, Luke and Belinda McCarthy’s champion pacer has

drawn ideally in gate two for the second of the $100,000 sprints, which guarantees a berth in the Miracle Mile to the first two across

the line.

Polemarker The Black Prince gets a serious shot at qualifying as well as he is certain to take the trail behind King Of Swing, who

has rarely been beaten when he leads in any race.

Other chances include Inter Dominion winner Boncel Benjamin, Newcastle Mile runner-up Balraj, Max Delight, Cruz Bromac,

Bundoran and Jay OK in what should be a battle royale to finish close enough to be considered for an invitation into ‘The Big

Dance’.

The first of the $100,000 sprints will be no less exciting with McCarthy’s talented pair of Spirit Of St Louis and Expensive Ego poised

to fight it out with the likes of Zeuss Bromac, Line Up, Triple Eight and Majestic Cruiser.

Luke McCarthy has also declared Expensive Ego and Spirit Of St Louis as ‘spot-on’ for their major challenge of earning a spot in the

$1million race to be run Saturday week at Tabcorp Park Menangle.

“Expensive Ego pulled up well and last weekend’s defeat, well, that style or racing just did not suit him,” said the star reinsman.

“The owners thought he might have had enough this prep but I disagreed and sometimes he can be a bit dour but his Inter Dom

runs were amazing and I’m happy to let the horse do the talking this weekend.

“The King is great. He and Spirit Of St Louis had a trial on Friday and they worked really well.

“Louis is getting better every preparation and it’s just been progressive and he has continued to get stronger and now he’s really stepping

up to the challenge.”

With no Lochinvar Art there to contend after he was sent for a spell, Team McCarthy looks on track to get at least three runners

into the Miracle Mile.

Fields for the two sprints, in barrier order, are:

SCHWEPPES SPRINT (Race 4)

1. Bettor Call Me                 Sofia Arvidsson (2nd em)
2. Like A Wildfire                 -
3. Triple Eight                       Greg Sugars
4. Mach Da Vinci                  Blake Fitzpatrick (1st em)
5. Malcolms Rhythm           Josh Aiken
6. Majestic Cruiser              Cameron Hart
7. Spirit Of St Louis              Jack Callaghan
8. Line Up                              Darren Binskin
9. Our Uncle Sam                Anthony Frisby
10. Expensive Ego                  Luke McCarthy
11. Zeuss Bromac                  Gavin Fitzpatrick
12. Rock N Roll Doo              Michael Stanley

              ALLIED EXPRESS SPRINT (Race 5)

1. The Black Prince              Robert Morris
2. King Of Swing                   Luke McCarthy
3. Cruz Bromac                    Cameron Hart
4. Supreme Dominator      James Herbertson
5. Max Delight                      Chris Alford
6. Jay OK                                Gavin Fitzpatrick
7. Mach Shard                      Jack Callaghan
8. Bundoran                         Amanda Turnbull
9. Bettor Call Me                 Sofia Arvidsson (2nd em)
10. Mach Da Vinci                  Blake Fitzpatrick (1st em)
11. Balraj                                 Jack Trainor
12. Boncel Benjamin             Josh Gallagher