Ipswich Derby win caps a big night for McCarthys

By Pat McLeod

The emotion was real and justified as John McCarthy and son Ben hugged on-track just after Fast Eddie had claimed the last Ipswich Derby to be raced at the Showgrounds circuit on Saturday night.

“I have had some very good nights racing greyhounds, some big wins, but Saturday night was special, very special and the most emotional because of Ben’s win,” John said, who bred the winner and gifted the dog to his son.

Ben, who owns and trains Fast Eddie, echoed those sentiments.

“First there was the shock of the win. Then, as I met dad, who caught the dog, and we hugged, and I could hear family in the stands, that’s when the emotion kicked in," Ben said. 

The father and son angle is a must-read, but just one of the incredible story lines from Saturday night’s Futurity and Derby action at Ipswich – the last time those events are held at the Showgrounds track with racing soon to relocate to The Q. 

Ben’s success in the $30,000-to-the-winner Derby wasn’t the McCarthys’ only highlight of the night.

John also scored second (Mossy Boots) and third (Dish For Dash) behind John Corrigan’s Uno Nangar in the Futurity Final. 

He also ran second in the third feature of the night, the Prostate Cancer Cup Final (630 metres) with Sister Riley.

That race was won by Jeremiah Fire (trained by Warren Nicholls) with Valpolicella (Tony Zammit) third.

Incredibly, all four of the McCarthy runners on Saturday night are from the same Aston Rupee and Pearl Za Diamond litter.

And, to put the icing on the cake with a historical footnote:

When John McCarthy was making a name for himself in greyhound racing in South East Queensland, he won the first Queensland Derby to be raced at the-then new Albion Park track in 1993 with a dog called Dagenham.

Now, his son Ben has won the last Derby to be raced at the Ipswich Showgrounds track.

With Fast Eddie jumping from box six in the Derby Final, Ben said he didn’t approach this race with a great deal of confidence.

“I have a lot of confidence in this dog, but when you have Duffman (trained by Jedda Cutlack and jumping from box eight) and More Than Money (Pam Field and box seven) sitting outside you can’t go into a race overly confident,” Ben said.

“But, the great thing about Fast Eddie is that he will almost always make the most of his opportunities. He will put himself into a position so that if the chance to win is offered, he is there to take it.

“And, that is what happened on Saturday night.”

Both Duffman and More Than Money found trouble trying to find a position closer to the rail.

Selena Zammit’s Backcreek Benny ran second with Duffman gallantly storming to the line, third. The winning time was 30.51 seconds. 

The 40-year-old Ben McCarthy grew up being mentored by his dad around their kennels at Wivenhoe Pocket only took out a trainer’s licence late last year after establishing his building business.

“I started taking dogs to the track consistently from January this year,” Ben says.

“My work allows me to also give time to the dogs and I also get plenty of help from my wife (Skye) and son Chase. But, most significant is what dad has brought to the table.

“I don’t have to re-invent the wheel. He has successfully raced greyhounds for many years, so I am able to mimic much of what he has done.

“Of course, I have my own ideas on how I want to do things and I use dad as a sounding board for those, as well.”

Ben said Fast Eddie’s Derby win had ‘earned him the right’ to contest the Group 1 Ipswich Cup heats on Thursday night.

“I was in two minds about jumping him up against the class of dogs that will be contesting the Cup,” Ben said.

“But, that win has earned him the right to have a go. From there I will look at taking him across to Albion Park for some age-restricted features there.

“Fast Eddie keeps improving and is now showing that he has turned into a very nice race dog.”

John McCarthy said the Pearl Za Diamond litter was proving to be ‘outstanding’ as they continue to improve.

“I raced the mum and she showed ability before I retired her after a stopper bone injury,” John said.

“Her first litter, to Dyna Lachlan, was pretty good, but this one is coming along very well.

“I kept all six pups and asked Ben to choose one when he decided that her wanted to get back into the sport. He chose Fast Eddie, which has turned out to be a pretty good choice.”