By Richard Goodbody
King Of Swing was crowned this year’s Grand Circuit champion on Saturday night with a jaw-dropping victory in the Group 1 TAB Blacks A Fake at Albion Park.
Having captured the Miracle Mile and Hunter Cup earlier this year, King Of Swing ensured he celebrated his coronation in style as Luke McCarthy controlled proceedings, stopping the clock in a time of 3:17.3 for the 2680m feature event.
With COVID-19 postponing the $175,000 feature from its traditional July timeslot, the Blacks A Fake was re-scheduled for the Summer Carnival, paving the way for the five-year-old to launch his raid on Queensland’s biggest harness racing event.
There would be no denying King Of Swing, however, as he took full toll from his front-row draw to take up the running before the bell before letting down with a blistering turn of speed to register a mile rate of 1:58.5.
Having captured last year’s Blacks A Fake, Colt Thirty One, who was hoping to go back-to-back for Grant Dixon, fought on bravely to finish second, while the Vicki Rasmussen-trained Turn It Up rounded out the placings.
McCarthy was full of praise for his star pacer following the victory.
“He’s a great horse,” McCarthy said.
“He’s very smart and he just reeled off a 26 (second final quarter) on a wet track like that, he just went super.
“Hopefully now, if he stays sounds, he’ll be on the Grand Circuit for the next two, three, four seasons…we’ll look after him and hopefully there’s a few more big races to come.”
Earlier in the night, Arnold took out the Group 2 TAB Trotters Sprint as McCarthy took out the night’s two biggest races to continue his blistering form during the Summer Carnival.