29 December 2022 | HRNSW MEDIA | AMANDA RANDO
Champion reinsman Luke McCarthy returns to the driving ranks at Penrith tonight.
The 76-time Group 1 winning driver last drove in the Inter Dominion Grand Final when seventh in the feature with Expensive Ego on December 10.
McCarthy has three drives, all on pacers trained by his wife Belinda McCarthy who has won this year’s Metropolitan Trainers’ Premiership.
McCarthy will drive Halsey Nicole in race two before Mufasa Bart in race seven and I’m Belieber in race eight.
The 40-year-old reinsman has scaled back his driving this season and has 52 wins to his credit.
It will be the first time in 13 years that McCarthy has not driven more than 100 winners in a season.
Despite driving less this year, McCarthy has still earned more than $1.8million in stakes from his commitments.
His highlights this year were winning the Miracle Mile and the Hunter Cup with King Of Swing.
Now retired and standing at stud, King Of Swing became the first horse to win the Miracle Mile three times.
The iForm best bets for Thursday:
Penrith best bet
Race 3: Solar Express (3)
Stylish last start victor who will prove hard to stop again.
Penrith next best
Race 5: Lucky Beach Boy (8)
Useful Menangle displays since winning five starts ago suggests a high rating.
Around the tracks
Tamworth best bet
Race 6: Faiselle (4)
Can press forward here and looks to be too strong for her opposition.
Play the exotics
The Penrith quaddie
Race 5: 8-10-4-9-3-5
Race 6: 3-1-8-5-7
Race 7: 7-2
Race 8: 1
$60 for 100%
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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