11 August 2017
AMANDA RANDO | @Amanda_Rando
FOR the past two years brothers Luke and Todd McCarthy have battled it out in the New South Wales Metropolitan Drivers’ Premiership and this season is no different.
Currently Todd holds the lead with 37 wins while Luke is close behind on 31 wins and there are just three metropolitan meetings left of the season.
However, this Saturday night the older of the two, Luke McCarthy, can take advantage of his younger brother heading overseas for a fortnight.
Luke has a handful of drives at Tabcorp Park Menangle and has a chance to close the gap on Todd’s premiership lead.
Out of his four drives, Luke rates the mare Tintinara in race six as his “best chance”.
Drawn in barrier three and set to come out of barrier two with the removal of the first emergency, Tintinara resumed from a five month spell last Saturday night and finished fourth to My Lucky Belle in a mile rate of 1:53.3.
“She went really well last week and should be better again,” Luke claimed.
“She has drawn much better for this race and should hopefully settle in behind the leader and give it a really good crack.
“This mare is my best drive of the night.”
Another horse that has performed well with Luke in the sulky of late is the New Zealand-owned Little Rascal.
The gelding has had seven starts with trainer Craig Cross since arriving in Australia and Luke drove him to victory twice back in June.
On Saturday night he faces a tough task drawn in barrier nine in the Group 3 Claiming Shortage Pace (1609m) and is an $8 chance with TAB Fixed Odds.
“He’s been running some great races against the top horses but the top division is tough enough let alone having to draw wide against the better horses,” Luke said.
“He’ll run a good race but it will be hard to win from the draw he has.”
Another horse amongst Luke’s book of drives tonight is former Tasmanian pacer Hillview Jake.
The gelding will make his NSW debut in race two and brings north a record if 13 wins and eight seconds in 28 starts.
He has drawn barrier 12 over the 2300m.
“He is first up and doesn’t have the best of draws,” Luke claimed.
“It can take horses a run or two to get used to the style of racing at Menangle but he seems handy enough.”
Luke heads into this meeting having driven 108 winners for the season.
It is the 15th time in 16 years he has driven more than a century of winners in the one season.
Harness Racing NSW (HRNSW) is the controlling body for harness racing in New South Wales with responsibility for commercial and regulatory management of the industry including 33 racing clubs across the State. HRNSW is headed by a Board of Directors and is independent of Government.
To arrange an interview or for further information please contact:
AMANDA RANDO | MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
(02) 9722 6600 • arando@hrnsw.com.au • @Amanda_Rando