By Adam Hamilton
Dual Miracle Mile winner King Of Swing will kick-start a campaign at the rich Queensland TAB Constellations in the next couple of weeks.
Driver Luke McCarthy said the champion pacer would have two Menangle runs before heading north for two Group 1 targets – the $100,000 Sunshine Sprint on July 17 and the $250,000 Blacks A Fake a week later.
King Of Swing is trying to successfully defend the Blacks A Fake crown he won when last year’s race was pushed back until December because of COVID-19.
The Kiwi-bred hasn’t raced since winning his second Miracle Mile at Menangle on March 7.
“He’s ready to go anytime now. You’ll see him in the next couple of weeks for sure,” McCarthy said. “He had a private workout at Menangle at the weekend and showed us he’s come back really well and is set to go again.”
King Of Swing beat stablemate and Chariots Of Fire winner Expensive Ego in the Miracle Mile and they will lock horns again in Queensland, but probably not until the Blacks A Fake.
Expensive Ego, who took his record to 13 wins from 19 starts winning the Group 1 Australian Gold final at Melton on May 1, has been freshened-up and will have one Menangle run before heading north.
“He’ll just need the one run to prime him for The Rising Sun (July 10),” McCarthy said.
McCarthy thinks Expensive Ego has and will continue to close the gap on King Of Swing.
“I actually don’t think there’s much at all between them now. I’d say he’s nearly right there with King Of Swing. It’ll be interesting when they do meet again,” he said.
Former classy Kiwi pair Mach Shard and Spirit Of St Louis are also Queensland-bound.
“Mach Shard’s on the same timeline as King Of Swing and will tackle the same races in Queensland, but we’ll keep them apart down here (Menangle) for their lead-up racing,” McCarthy said.
“It’s been great to bring Mach Shard up through out system this time and he seems great. With the right run, I think he’ll be right there with the very best this campaign.
“Spirit Of St Louis is also about to go. He’s a four-year-old so he’ll target The Rising Sun with Expensive Ego. He’s working really well at home and we’re excited about him. Keep an eye out for him at Menangle in the next couple of weeks.”
McCarthy said the stable’s star mare Bettor Enforce was also about to resume and would join he stellar team of Queensland raiders.
“Her target is another of their new races, the (Group 1) Golden Girl on the same night as the Sunshine Sprint (July 17),” McCarthy said.
“It’ll be great to get back up to Queensland where I’ve spent so much of my career and they’ve really built a fantastic Carnival.”
