By Jordan Gerrans
Wivenhoe Pocket trainer John McCarthy has identified Chance as the best winning hope of his litter brothers contesting the heats of Friday’s Past Members Memorial series.
The Past Members Memorial series is run at Ipswich every year and recognises the contribution of participants who have passed away.
Native Englishman McCarthy has drawn the blue rug in each of the two heat’s to be run on Friday afternoon over 431 metres, with Chance in the opening heat while Cockney Pride will go around not long after.
The experienced dog man bred the litter - Aston Dee Bee and Just Spiffing – and raced the brothers’ mother Just Spiffing and grandmother True To You.
The red dog of the litter – Chance - has won five of his last six trips to Ipswich, including a win in smart time on Tuesday, and McCarthy believes maturity has played a key role in the 36 month old chaser’s recent outstanding form.
In all of his recent victories, Chance has been able to lead and hold on, which he will aim to again do on Friday from the middle of the boxes.
“He had a bit of time off, which gave him the chance to mature, and he has grown into a nice dog,” McCarthy said.
“When a dog starts to get that timing right out of the box, they seem to just get in that groove, which he seems to be doing so well in his last half dozen starts.
“He times the jump and that is just the difference as he has always had the ability. He is enjoying his work at the moment.”
As a red-hot favourite, Chance ran a quick early split on Tuesday – 13.23 seconds – before stopping the clock before 25 seconds in his 431 metre victory.
If he can begin smartly again on Friday, McCarthy rates Chance as a big hope in the heat.
“Time wise, there is nothing between them both given a clear run,” McCarthy said of the litter brothers.
“The big difference being Chance has been nailing the start of late, since he has come back from a strain, he has been nailing it – winning five of his last six.
“He is running really good first splits and missing the trouble.”
As the name of Cockney Pride suggests, McCarthy is a proud Englishman, who grew up in the suburb of Dagenham in east London.
He moved out as a 21-year-old looking for an adventure with a few mates, aiming to stay for a couple of years, and over 40 years later, he remains in Australia.
McCarthy originally relocated to the Coogee area of Sydney before eventually residing in the Sunshine State with his family.
Set to turn 66 years of age later this year, McCarthy notes that he is more of an Aussie than a Pom these days – having lived in Australia for longer – but he has kept a strong accent.