THE McCarthy family is no stranger to success on tracks across Australia, but this Friday night has the potential to be an evening to remember.
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The family who once called Bathurst home will be at Western Australia’s Gloucester Park aiming for success in both the $1.1 million Inter Dominion grand final and the Australasian Young Drivers Championships.
Todd McCarthy is New South Wales’ representative in the young drivers series and heads into Friday night on top of the points table.
Thanks to one win, a pair of seconds and a third over the eight races held thus far, he sits on 65 points ahead of Kiwi duo Kyle Marshall (60) and Robbie Close (57).
With the series reduced from the initially planned 10 races to nine, if McCarthy can produce a solid result at Gloucester Park he will be crowned champion.
He is set to go from barrier six with Bronze Seeker, a 146-start veteran, and is aiming to be the first NSW driver since Trevor Munday in 2004 to win the series.
Some three hours after his drive, Todd McCarthy’s older brother Luke will be in the gig in the Inter Dominion decider. He will drive Bling It On for his father-trainer John.
Bling It On is one of six horses that won a heat to qualify for the final, for which he has drawn the coveted barrier one.
“We’re really stoked to come up with a good draw,” McCarthy said on Sky Sports Radio.
“Now that we have a good draw we have a live chance.
“He hasn’t had a hard run through the series, he had some good trips and now we have a good draw, hopefully we can settle handy right on the pace.
“We will need a touch of luck, but he seems to be going really well.”
Bling It On does have early speed and McCarthy has this card up his sleeve if needed.
“We’ll just come out as quick as we can and hold the most forward position that we can,” he said.
“He does have gate speed there if we decide to ask him.”
With the race favourite Hectorjayjay drawn in barrier nine, McCarthy believes the $2.30 hope could cross early.
“If Josh [Aiken, driver] asked Hector I think he will cross them, he just has the natural speed,” McCarthy said.
“You seem to get a bit of momentum up in that back straight start at Gloucester Park too and he probably will have the speed to cross all of them.”
The decider will start at 12.30am Saturday (AEDST).
