HERE’S a scary thought:
Champion reinsman Luke McCarthy suggests King Of Swing may be better than he’s ever been as the champion pacer lines up for an unprecedented third successive $1m Miracle Mile at Menangle this weekend.
Not that anyone would have the temerity to suggest ‘the King’ could only win when he leads.
But the way the big fellow knuckled down and held out his rivals in a 1:47.9 mile to win Saturday night’s Group 1 Allied Express Sprint to earn his crack at a third Miracle Mile was something to behold and even had McCarthy shaking his head.
“He’s just incredible; he seems better than ever; He’s fit, he’s sound and he’s healthy,” said McCarthy.
“He was so dominant in his Hunter Cup win but tonight was probably the best run of his whole career, to sit parked and do all the work and still run that time.
“I strode up to see if the front was there and when it wasn’t and when we were going that fast than when we went past the cages, I thought we might be in a world of pain.”
If that was the case, the King didn’t show it as he held out the swoopers, Bundoran and Jay OK for a mighty victory.
And as if that wasn’t enough of a warning to his rivals, McCarthy said King Of Swing ate up well that night and pulled up a ‘treat’.
“I think that run might actually bring him right on for this week,” he said.
“I think he was better going into his second Miracle Mile win than he was the first time he won the big race and on his current form you’d have to say he’s even better again.”
It seems stablemate Spirit Of St Louis poses the biggest threat to King’s shot at a historic third win in Australasia’s greatest sprint.
“Spirit Of Louis is flying and will be dangerous if he is close to him,” said McCarthy.
“Jack [Callaghan] gets on so well with him and handles him so well.
“He put him in the right spot again in the Schweppes Sprint and ‘Louis’ has progressively got better every preparation and Jack drives him perfectly.
“But he does follow the speed so well and thrives on that good racing.
“Jack has taken care of him and given him good trips and he has turned into a real Grand Circuit horse now.”
Written By Michael Court, Australian Harness Racing
