TEAM McCarthy has the barrier draws to continue their fantastic recent Hunter Cup strike rate in Saturday night's $500,000 staying classic at Melton.
Belinda and Luke McCarthy have won two of the past three Hunter Cups with the now retired King Of Swing.
Last year they snared the quinella when Spirit Of St Louis ran the best race of his career for a fantastic second to King Of Swing.
Spirit Of St Louis is back trying to go one better and drew perfectly in barrier one, while Luke McCarthy was also thrilled with gate nine for Expensive Ego.
"It's all smiles from us after those draws," Luke said. "Spirit Of Louis has the speed to use gate one and the way he's going, we'd be keen to keep the lead.
"He looks right back to his best with his two recent wins at Menangle. The sectional times have been good. He's got a great chance this week."
Spirit Of St Louis was as long as $26 for the Hunter Cup last month, but is $4.50 favourite the pole draw.
Expensive Ego has been costly in Victoria with nine starts in the state netting just one win. He's won just one of five starts at Melton.
But McCarthy is not deterred and insists a nice trailing back row draw (gate nine) is just what he needs.
"He's so often had to do all the work in Melbourne and we want to drive him with a sit. The draw is perfect to do that," he said.
"We think he's flying and on the rare occasions we've driven him with a sit, he's run super races."
Veteran Kiwi trainer Ray Green was not fazed by a wide front row draw (six) with Copy That, who remains a $2.30 favourite from barrier six.
"There's some quick beginners draw underneath him, but that doesn;'t worry me. He should be able to balance-up and make his own luck from there," Green said.
"I'd rather that than the back row where you're more at the mercy of others."
Green rates the much-improved Honolua Bay as Copy That's biggest danger.
"I loved his run at Ballarat behind Copy That. He looks to be getting better every run and he's drawn quite well (four)," he said.
Honolua Bay is one of three Cup runners for the powerhouse Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin stable. The others are Mach Dan (seven) and Hurricane Harley (eight).
Inter Dominion winner I Cast No Shadow has drawn barrier three and is a $31 shot for trainer Jason Grimson, who also has $17 shot Major Meister in the race from the back row (12).
The other star Kiwi raider Old Town Road faces a huge task from outside the back row (gate 13).
Victoria Cup winner Rock N Roll Doo, who has been over racing and struggling for his best form, is kept safe at $11 from barrier 10.
HUNTER CUP DRAW
Front row: Spirit Of St Louis 1, Torrid Saint 2, I Cast No Shadow 3, Honolua Bay 4, Triple Eight 5, Copy That 6, Mach Dan 7.
Back row: Hurricane Harley 8, Expensive Ego 9, Rock N Roll Doo 10, Cranbourne (emerg) 11, Major Meister 12, Old Town Road 13.
* Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
