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and into the early action after drawing gate eight, although she will come into gate six when the two emergencies are withdrawn, as expected.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

15 October 2025
Bulletproof Boy's fairytale Victoria Cup mission
Every once in a while, a competitor comes along that defies the odds, defies logic and fulfils an incredible dream. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY AT THETROTS.COM.AU
15 October 2025
Don Hugo to target NSW Carnival of Cups
REIGNING Miracle Mile hero Don Hugo is set to become the headline act of the huge NSW Carnival of Cups. Trainer-driver Luke McCarthy confirmed the Inter Dominion and Miracle Mile winner would target the $1 million bonus on the five-leg series, starting at Wagga on November 14. That’s why Don Hugo...
15 October 2025
Keayang Zahara and Jilliby Ballerini set for Group 1 showdown
Driver Jason Lee admits he still doesn’t know just how good Keayang Zahara is. But he expects to be a bit clearer after she faces yet another defining test, this time against one of her “own”, in Saturday night’s Group 1 Bill Collins Trotters’ Sprint at Melton. CLICK HERE...
15 October 2025
Tracy The Jet and Gatesys Gem to renew rivalry at Melton
It a sign of how far Tracy The Jet has come that she’s favourite for Saturday night’s Group 1 Victoria Trotters Oaks at Melton Even more so when you consider she’s drawn three and Gatesys Gem has the pole. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY AT THE TROTS.COM.AU
15 October 2025
Young gun Ryan Sanderson chasing dream night at Melton
There are just three more sleeps until the biggest night of top young driver Ryan Sanderson’s career. Not only will he drive in his first Victoria Cup – the Cox Plate of harness racing – on Bay Of Biscay, but Sanderson also has a stunning set of feature drives outside of that. CLICK...
Click for more