King swinging towards Cup

By Adam Hamilton

MIRACLE Mile and Hunter Cup winner King Of Swing looks set to tackle next Saturday night’s $300,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup.

After weeks of uncertainty, regular driver Luke McCarthy confirmed the superstar pacer would be nominated and was “very likely” to make the trip down from NSW.

With uncertainty surrounding Ride High after his shock defeat, King Of Swing is just the injection of star power the Victoria Cup needs.

McCarthy has applied for a permit to travel with King Of Swing and drive him. He’s awaiting the outcome and/or conditions.

Even if he can’t travel, the odds are firming King Of Swing will still tackle the Cup with a driver the ilk of Chris Alford, Anthony Butt or Greg Sugars.

“This has been his aim all along, he’s been trained specifically for it so we could make the decision as late as possible,” McCarthy said.

“Hopefully the permit gives me the chance to go with him and drive him. If not, I’d say there’s still a big chance he’ll go anyway. He’s absolutely flying and there’s nothing else for him.”

If King Of Swing comes, trainer Craig Cross will have at a staggering five runners in the Cup.

The others will be: Cash N Flow, Balraj, Alta Orlando and Bling It On.

The quartet were sharpened-up with private trials at Menangle on Saturday.

“They’re all primed,” McCarthy said. “Gee Bling It On worked well. We think we’ve got him back to the form that won him last year’s (Victoria Cup) race.

“Cash N Flow worked really well, as well. Balraj and Alta Orlando worked together and pleased us.”

Asked about drivers, McCarthy said he and Cross would wait for the outcome of his request for a travel permit and the final field before making any concrete decisions.

“We’ve spoken to (Chris) Alford, Ants (Anthony Butt), Greg (Sugars) and others,” McCarthy said.

 Kerryn Manning, who is nearing 4000 career wins at 3982, is also understood to be in the mix.