McCarthy tipping 'Ego' to be better again

24 January 2023

Ace reinsman Luke McCarthy was not overly concerned by the defeat of Expensive Ego (pictured inside) at Menangle on Saturday night.

“I probably went too slow the first half,” said McCarthy.

“You can’t be too disappointed . . . they did go 1:49.3.

“I thought with the fractions I ran there wasn’t a horse that could beat him in that race.

“But Petes Said So went enormous and deserved to win.

“Yes, I was surprised we were beaten, but he’ll go better next run.

“We’re still looking forward to the Miracle Mile with him.

“We’ll decide whether or not to chase the A. G. Hunter Cup this week. But at this stage we’re really focusing on the Miracle Mile.”

McCarthy said Spirit Of St Louis would definitely go south and would have a last hit-out at Menangle this weekend before heading for Victoria.

Back in action today at Menangle, McCarthy will partner the promising Rocknroll Hammer in Race 5

“He’s a lovely colt who trialled in 1:55 at Menangle last week,” he said.

“He’s a half-brother to King Of Swing.

“He feels like a nice horse and we’re hoping he’ll develop into a Derby horse.

“He only had three starts in New Zealand but they really liked him and I’m looking forward to getting him onto the track.

“I expect him to race really well today.”

Meanwhile, there’s nothing like a short stint on the sidelines to re-ignite the competitive juices.

And champion reinsman Rob Morris resumes action at Menangle today hoping for a winning treble . . . at the very least.

Morris already has five winners this season and at the ripe old age of 31 has driven an amazing 1802 winners in a career that began as a teenager.

His enthusiasm is never in question and Morris will be aboard four early favourites at Menangle today – three of them for his trainer/wife KerryAnn.

Two of those are square-gaiters with Daimyo ($1.65) favoured to win the opening event.

Morris’s second drive, in Race 2, will create plenty of interest.

Former Kiwi trotter BJ Lindenny will have his first start for Lucky Lodge but has won seven races on New Zealand’s South Island and finished second to the powerful Tough Monarch in a Menangle trial last week.

He was only beaten by six metres by one of Australia’s best trotters, which would suggest he should have little trouble adjusting to the Menangle-style of trotting.