Trainer-driver Luke McCarthy. Photo by Club Menangle
IT takes a good horse or two to lure champion horseman Luke McCarthy to a midweek meeting in recent months.
So, McCarthy looks the driver to follow at Menangle on Tuesday with at least three serious chances.
The best of those looks to be promising filly Our Special Memory in Race 5.
A beautifully-bred filly by boom sire Bettors Delight, Our Special Memory has strung together an impressive record since joining McCarthy’s Cobbitty team from the Russell Jack stables.
At just her fifth run for McCarthy she scored a stylish 1:52.6 win at Newcastle with Jack Callaghan in the sulky.
That was her fifth win with six other placings from just 13 starts and McCarthy hops into the bike on Tuesday and looks likely to call on Our Special Memory’s gate speed and look for an all-the-way win over 1609m.
McCarthy has another top hope in Race 6 with three-year-old colt Mac Bon.
Mac Bon showed his talent with a surprise win in last year’s $100,000 Breeders Crown two-year-old colts and geldings final at Melton.
He resumed from a short let-up when a close third to Jungle Dragon first-up at Menangle a bit over a week ago.
Drawn wide on Tuesday, McCarthy may bide his time and look to make his move when they hit the long Menangle straight for the run home.
McCarthy rounds out the afternoon when he drives consistent gelding Dashing in Race 8.
By Art Major out of former champion mare Frith, Dashing already has a sub-1.50 win to his credit, scoring in 1:49.2 in March and a repeat of anything like that run would see him home today.
Still, he might need to be at his best as Race 8 would not look out of place on a Saturday night with Jason Grimson’s classy pair Fire Fox and District Attorney as well as Dashing stablemate Roll Up certain to keep him honest.
Meanwhile Saturday night’s two-year-old fillies’ feature winner Bettors Creation is heading for the spelling paddock following her impressive win for the Jarrod Alchin stable.
Successful upon debut in an Australian Pacing Gold qualifier a fortnight ago, Alchin is thrilled with his filly’s progress.
“She has done a huge job to get to where she is,” said Alchin.
“She's pretty-much gone from the breakers to qualifying to winning the APG in one prep.
“About a month ago it all clicked with her and she hasn't looked back.”
