LEADING Queensland reinsman Luke McCarthy has been engaged to drive major contender Mister Zion in the group one $125,000 PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup, 2170 metres, on Saturday night.
Bannockburn trainer Geoff Webster has called on McCarthy's services, given he has three starters in the grand circuit event.
As well as Mister Zion, Webster is lining up last year's Ballarat Pacing Cup winner Mister Swinger and the emerging Tear It All Away.
Webster will drive Mister Swinger.
Webster was wrapt to see Mister Zion yesterday draw the pole, although he acknowledged Our Malabar would be hard to keep out from gate two.
Mister Zion led all-the-way to take out the group one $100,000 South Australian Cup at his last start, with Webster at the reins.
"He's got very good gate speed and we'll be looking to use it," Webster said.
McCarthy is in Victoria with his star three-year-old For A Reason, which contests a Victoria Derby heat at Melton tomorrow night.
He is not new to Bray Raceway.
McCarthy took grand mare Fleur de Lil to victory in the Australasian Breeders Crown as a three-year-old and third in the Ballarat Pacing Cup last year.
He will be pitted against his father John, who has golden oldie and million dollar earner Be Good Johnny tackling his second Ballarat Pacing Cup.
The cup will again see a Trans-Tasman battle, with Mr Feelgood and Our Awesome Armbro representing New Zealand.
Mr Feelgood narrowly went down to Mister Swinger in this race 12 months ago and the reigning Inter-Dominion champion will not get it any easier from his wide second row draw.
New South Wales veteran Karloo Mick also had no luck in yesterday's barrier draw, getting gate 13.
Although nine years-old, Karloo Mick has been a revelation in the past two seasons, with thirds in the Inter-Dominion Pacing Championship final and Miracle Mile, and a string of wins across NSW and Queensland, as well as New Zealand.
Last-start group two Bendigo Pacing Cup winner Sammy Maguire, which is one of the most improved pacers in Victoria this season, is drawn to given the cup a massive shake for Melton father and son combination Graeme and Gavin Lang.
Ross Creek-trained Make Waves remains in contention to get a run after being named emergency.
If he misses out, Russell Cook has the six-year-old in the $20,000 Pure Steel, 2710m, on the same program.
MELTON trainer-driver Lance Justice dropped a bombshell yesterday morning by not accepting in the Ballarat Pacing Cup with the outstanding Smoken Up.
Justice said he feared that if Smoken Up won, he would get a 10m penalty for the group one $400,000 AG Hunter Cup at Moonee Valley on Saturday, February 6.
Justice still has a runner with last-start WA Pacing Cup third placegetter Our Malabar to go around.
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