Bundy trainer eyeing Country Cup glory in big smoke

By Jordan Gerrans

Lindsay Mccarthy made a living throughout his life selling fast cars but the Bundaberg dog trainer believes he has found his true passion once he retired from the work force. 

Mccarthy owned a number of car dealerships in his younger years but once he arrived at his retirement age, he was quick to pull stumps on working on a full-time basis. 

“I hit 60 years of age and said that is enough for work and I have focused in on my dogs since,” the passionate dog man said.

“It keeps me going – I am in with the dogs at 4am every morning – and gives me a good interest because I really like it.

“I love the sport.

“There is a lot of people out there in the industry who want to help you and see you do well.”

The Bundaberg-based conditioner makes the four hour trip south to Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club on Thursday to start one from his kennel on one of the biggest nights on the Queensland calendar.

While the Gold Bullion and Gold Cup will headline the meeting, the Country Cup Final over 520 metres will draw in a sizeable interest from across the Sunshine State.

Chasers from Townsville, Rockhampton and Bundaberg will descend on Albion Park for the hotly contested race for regional kennels.

Mccarthy and Sholto won through to the $18,500 feature by running second in the Rockhampton Country Cup semi-final in the middle of last month.

Mccarthy – who has seven in his kennel – is lapping up the opportunity to race one from his team in the Golden Greys Summer Carnival.

He has been blown away by the support of fellow industry participants this week, with a handful of other trainings contacting him with well wishes for the annual event.

“I think it is absolutely fantastic and a great thing for the little trainers that do not get to make it down to the big smoke too often,” Mccarthy said of the race concept. 

“For a little bloke like me to have a shot in a race like this, it is just great.”

Sholto – an eight-time winner with 10 other minor placings from 37 attempts – comes from a litter that knows the Albion Park track well.

The black dog is a litter mate to Showdown, Shaye and Sunburst, who all race under the Jedda Cutlack banner.

The trio of Cutlack dogs have all won more than 16 races each and will also face the starter on Thursday evening at “The Creek” complex.

Showdown will chase black-type success in the Listed Golden Oldies Final over 520 metres.

Mccarthy has a close connection with the breeders of the Sh Avatar and Sawadee litter, which led to Sholto making his way north after two underwhelming runs to commence his career in New South Wales about a year ago.

“I am pretty lucky to be tied up with Sonia and Peter Davis – who bred the dogs,” the trainer said.

“Pete is a colossal bloke, him and Sonia, and nothing is every too hard for them and they like to give the little bloke trainers a go, as well.

“I get all my dogs from them.”

Sholto has drawn the four alley for Thursday’s rich race for regional trainers.

Mccarthy described his kennel star as a “one-paced dog” but believes he is every chance of claiming the honours on Thursday.

“I was really happy with his last start run at Rocky and he has had a few looks at Albion Park previously so he knows the track,” he said.

“The time of 29.89 seconds over 510 metres at Rocky is not a bad effort.

“I know it is a different track and everything but he seems to like Albion from his previous trips.

“Hopefully he can some early 30s on Thursday night.”

Samshu was earlier this week withdrawn from Thursday’s Country Cup Final after sustaining an injury in a trial at the track on Monday night.

Samshu's scratching opens the door for last year’s Townsville Cup winner Redemption Day to take his place in the field from box three.

Redemption Day finished fifth in the Townsville heat as a $1.60 favourite after a luckless run from the same box.

Redemption Day was a dominant winner of the Townsville Cup, clearing out from box six to beat the Cutlack-trained Shaye by more than six lengths. 

Meanwhile, also in the Listed Golden Oldies Final on Thursday evening, trainer Adam Mcintosh has high hopes for Inner Tea Cup after the bitch has not run outside of the money in each of her last six starts.

“I think she can lead them a merry dance from box one but just the last part of the race, I am a bit concerned,” Mcintosh said.

“The dog drawn outside of her - Hearts Colliding - I think she will get a nice run.
“In saying that, I bought Inner Tea Cup home from Adelaide four months ago to retire her and she has not raced any better.

“It is incredible the way she has gone.

“We have a chance in the Final and hopefully she can lead them a merry dance in front.”