Julie Maughan's Raceday Report 22nd January 2016: Golden Guitar Final

 

CYCLONE KATE WINS $25,000 Prydes EasiFeed Golden Guitar Final at Tamworth by Julie Maughan

Torrential rain was the back drop for the win of Cyclone Kate in the $25,000 Prydes Easifeed Golden Guitar Final at Tamworth last Friday night.

"I like her even more now" said McCarthy of Cyclone Kate. "They told me she had a bit of ability"

It was the first time that John McCarthy had made the trip to compete in the racing carnival at Tamworth and all indications are he will be back.

"I am really pleased that I came but I had to have the right horse" added McCarthy.

Well Cyclone Kate prove to be the right horse!

After setting a new track record (1.58.0 for 1980m) in taking out Heat 5 of the series punters placed Cyclone Kate (Mach Three – Eyre To The Throne) in as race favourite in the Final.

"When I got the mare from NZ I went through the book to see what I could set her for, as they said she had quite a bit of ability, so I thought I would try and go for the best races I can to go through her classes"

To set the race scene, Cyclone Kate drew the five barrier and McCarthy sat patiently after the barrier pulled away while Dubbo pacer Zodiac Dream (Nathan Turnbull) held the lead from the pole.

McCarthy slowly worked his way to the front of the field to take the lead with Katy Perry (Lauren Panella) racing in the breeze.

McCarthy’s son Luke had his own contender Downunder Stride in the enviable one by one.

John McCarthy then recalled how the race unfolded ….

"I was three wide straight away and I just sat there for a little bit and waited till Luke (McCarthy) had a crack for the lead. When he didn’t get there I thought maybe I will have a crack now and I thought maybe I could get her (Cyclone Kate) around them - which I did - but I had to really open her up to get around"

"She (Cyclone Kate) travelled really good after that. She was really nice and keen, not pulling, just travelling nice, like how you want them"

John McCarthy knew he would have pressure from Katy Perry at some stage in the race.

"I knew she would" said McCarthy of the race pressure "and because she (Katy Perry) wears spreaders it’s a little bit hard for those types of horses when it’s raining. She actually ran a hard race in the wet weather"

"She (Cyclone Kate) felt good and half way down the back when Katy Perry started to drop off I was really confident then because I thought it would be very hard for someone else to catch her".

John McCarthy read the race like a script and it could have had a fairy-tale ending of father and son finishing one two but there was an outsider who changed the ending!

Cyclone Kate had a 3.6 metre win over a fast finishing Bettabe Perfect (Peter McMullen) and Downunder Stride (Luke McCarthy) 2 metres away third with a mile rate of 1.59.2 for 1980 metres.

With 20 mls of rain falling throughout the night McCarthy was full of praise for the track itself which had recently undergone a resurfacing in preparation for the Carnival.

"The track held up pretty good considering it had water sitting on top but it was really firm underneath".

Cyclone Kate may have had three starts for three wins since coming from NZ but McCarthy has big plans for the mare.

"My aim is to get her into the Ladyship Mile but I have to win a couple of nice races to get in it. By winning this race gives her credibility so I will take her back to Sydney and hopefully get a couple of wins"

"It’s a good series (Golden Guitar) and I have watched it from afar in Queensland a few times. I like the track It’s a good track and a good Club".