Team McCarthy dominate at Albion Park

By Adam Hamilton 

Put a ring around July 3.

While many of the stars came out to play at Albion Park last Saturday night, headed by King Of Swing and Expensive Ego, things will go seriously next level on July 3.

The biggest races of the huge Queensland Constellations don’t start until July 10, but the entrée a week will be superb.

King Of Swing and Expensive Ego will be back, the exciting Spirit Of St Louis will be there too, but you can also throw Copy That and maybe even Krug into the mix.

Team McCarthy’s three biggest guns – King Of Swing, Expensive Ego and Spirit Of St Louis – all opened their Queensland campaigns victories but without a lot of fuss or flair last Saturday night.

King Of Swing was crossed at the start, re-took the front from Turn It Up, dawdled (by his standards) between the 1600-400m and dashed home to win as he liked in the 2680m Lucky Creed. His 1min58sec mile rate was about four seconds slower than they’ll go for the same trip in the Blacks A Fake on July 24.

Turn It Up was 7.1m away in second spot after his cosy trip, while Spankem got a pass mark for sitting parked and finishing 8.6m from the winner in third spot.

Ultimately, the race really told us nothing.

It was much the same with Expensive Ego, who Luke McCarthy drove aggressively from a back row draw to circle the field early, run to the front and win as he liked by 7.3m in a comfortable 1min54.2sec mile rate for 1660m.

Spirit Of St Louis did his share of work, unleashed a dazzling 200m sprint down the back to take the front, then won without being extended against moderate company.

“They all needed the run and felt great for where they are at,” Luke McCarthy said.

“They were the runs they needed at this stage before they all go around again in a couple of weeks time (July 3).”

Spirit Of St Louis, two from two against moderate opposition since joining Team McCarthy, looks a lock for a spot in The Rising Sun.

While we’re yet to see what he’s capable of, that sheer speed is a weapon to be respected.

McCarthy’s looming dilemma is which stable star he drives.

No doubt he’ll drive Expensive Ego in The Rising Sun, so who drives Spirit Of St Louis?

It could be an even bigger call in the Sunshine Sprint and Blacks A Fake if/when Expensive Ego clashes with King Of Swing.

You’d think he would drive King Of Swing, but he oozes excitement for Expensive Ego so maybe it’s not a given.