By Adam Hamilton
IT is fair to say sending Cyclone Kate to Australia has been an inspired move.
The talented mare has gone to another level since joining John McCarthy’s barn with five wins from as many runs.
The biggest of those came when she led throughout and beat two buzz pacers in Lord Zin Zan and Cruz Bromac in the $50,000 Group 2 Carnival Stakes last Sunday.
Most expected the four-year-old to take a trail on Cruz Bromac or Lord Zin Zan, but she driver Todd McCarthy held the front and with good reason.
Cyclone Kate bowled along in front and dashed home in a staggering 53.8 and 26.6sec to win easily.
John McCarthy and connections were disappointed she was balloted out of the two Ladyship Mile qualifiers and no we know why.
The five Aussie runs have already netted Cyclone Kate $58,600 in stakemoney.
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CO-TRAINER Luke McCarthy admits he has a soft spot for All Eyes On Us.
“He’s a horse we’ve loved since he was a baby and, despite a few issues along the way, he’s been able to win the main target we’ve set him for each campaign,” he said.
The target this campaign was the $50,000 Lady Drivers Invitational on Miracle Mile day.
“It was a penalty free race worth $50k, so it was ideal,” McCarthy said.
“I was worried when he drew the outside, but Emma (Turnbull) drove him like the best horse and he did the rest.”
All Eyes On Us won easily in a 1min52.6sec mile and gave Team McCarthy the quinella with Birdy Mach snaring second.
“I’m not sure if All Eyes On Us will make it right to the top, but he’ll get to that next level,” McCarthy said.
“I’m thinking of taking him down to run against Ohoka Punter as a bit of a measuring stick in the Cranbourne Cup next week.”
All Eyes On Us has raced just 28 times for 15 wins, eight placings and earned $243,580.
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VICTORIAN trainer Vince Vallelonga left Menangle a very happy man.
Not only did he win the opening race with the much-improved Stunning Grin, but his stable star Major Crocker ran a fantastic third to Smolda in the Group 1 Bohemia Crystal free-for-all (2400m).
“That was a really pleasing day,” he said. “It’s been a big few months with the Perth Inters, Melbourne’s carnival and here, but days like make it all worth it.”
Stunning Grin led throughout in the Group 2 Miracle Mile Drivers Invitational race and posted a sizzling 1min54.3sec, which set the theme for quick times all day.
“He’s an underrated horse and improving all the time. That was a terrific win in that time,” Vallelonga said.
The five-year-old was driven by Amanda Turnbull and ironically beat So Kool Harry a pacer trained by her father, Steve, which was driven by Mark Purdon.
Major Crocker’s run was arguably his career-best after leading in the Bohemia and carving out unthinkable times.
To hold-on and run third in a 1min52.7sec mile rate for 2400m – which obliterated the track record – was enormous.
“I was so proud of him. He’s out for a spell now. He’s done enough,” Vallelonga said.
“This has been his season for getting a real grounding in the big league. I think he’ll come back better again next time and we’ll be back to Perth for the Inter Dominion again.”
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FORMER Kiwi trotter On Thunder Road scored his most important win in the $54,000 Group 1 Trotters Cup (3009m) on Sunday.
It was a war of attrition and manners where On Thunder Road began well from a 20m handicap, took the lead in the middle stages and dug deep late.
Trained and driven by Darren Hancock, the six-year-old held-on by 5.8m from Glenferrir Dreamer with Paris Pepperell third.
Heavily-backed favourite Claudys Princess loomed as the winner on the last bend before galloping.
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