McCarthy hopes to square the ledger

23 October 2021 | HRNSW MEDIA | MICHAEL COURT
Logo
Top Menangle driver Luke McCarthy.

Top Menangle driver Luke McCarthy.

CHAMPION reinsman Luke McCarthy denied star filly Anntonia a Group 1 success when she contested a Breeders Challenge final as a two-year-old.

That was 12 months ago and now McCarthy hopes to square the ledger with Menangle trainer David Thorn by taking the reins behind Anntonia in tonight’s Breeders Challenge semi-final for the three-year-old fillies.

And even if he does get the ace filly through to the final, it will be a case of ‘job done’ for McCarthy as he will step aside and hand the drive to Jack Trainor, who returns from suspension to handle Anntonia in the $150,000 final.

McCarthy drove Soho Almasi to victory when Anntonia was beaten by four metres but Thorn’s filly has now strung together 10 wins and seven placings from just 17 starts and will be the shortest-priced favourite of the night when she tackles the second semi-final for the three-year-old fillies.

Anntonia may have to use some of her gate speed to get across and into the early action after drawing gate eight, although she will come into gate six when the two emergencies are withdrawn, as expected.

Thorn admitted his stable star had given him a couple of headaches after she finished a disappointing third first-up at Penrith, before scoring a soft win in 1:53 to qualify for tonight’s semi-final.

“I had a few issues with her tying up after the Penrith race,” Thorn told National Trotguide on-line.

“But her win here at Menangle last week was better, although she’s probably not as sharp in the wet.

“I was still happy enough with her the other day, her time was good on that wet track and she should be really hard to beat tonight.”

Thorn explained that the really good horses had to be 100 per cent right and nothing less or they just can’t beat the other good ones.

“It’s hard to line up some of these horses from Bathurst for gate speed. 

“I thought Machs Legacy might lead and hopefully will hand up the front, as she did last week.

“We would love to find the front.

“We’re lucky Luke [McCarthy] didn’t have one in this series.

“It’s very hard to find someone to drive them when they know they can’t drive them in the final.

“This worked out well as Luke didn’t have a drive and he was happy enough to try and get her through to the final for us.”

 

Related News

11 July 2025
Nieuwenburg's Numbers: Sectional standouts at Melton
Bronte Nieuwenburg has taken a deep dive into the upcoming Saturday night meeting at Melton, using stats and sectional times to break down the key runners. From the quickest gate speed, to the fastest swoopers and top overall performers, here’s a look at the best of each race, with a focus on horse,...
11 July 2025
Leap To Fame owner reveals 'secret weapon' for success
An uncanny knack of selecting market priced yearlings at the sales and developing them into top racehorses in a relatively short period has underpinned the success of the all-conquering Kevin Seymour and Grant Dixon combination. Over the past five years Dixon has sourced yearlings from sales conducted...
11 July 2025
Dixon won't leave it to luck
GRANT Dixon will take luck out of the equation as he aims to keep champion pacer Leap To Fame’s unbeaten Inter Dominion record intact at Albion Park tomorrow night. Leap To Fame has won all three heats and a Grand Final across two Inter Dominions, but yet another awkward inside back row draw (gate...
10 July 2025
GOODFORM - TOC's tips and game plan for Saturday at Melton
Tim O'Connor has done the form for the Saturday night meeting at Melton Entertainment Park.
10 July 2025
Layne on target on big stage
As curious as it sounds, up-and-coming Queensland reinsman Layne Dwyer believes he was more nervous competing in the pony division of the Inter Dominion compared to what he was on the big stage last Saturday evening. At just 18 years of age, the local youngster is taking on the best drivers from around...
Click for more