Belinda McCarthy is expected to nominate Mach Alert for the $150,000 PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup, 2710m, on Friday night.

Ballarat and District Trotting Club chief executive officer Paul Rowse confirmed yesterday that Mach Alert would ensure interstate presence in the cup.

He said there was also a possibility John McCarthy’s warhorse Washakie would also line up at Bray Raceway.

However, this will not known until nominations close on Monday.

The McCarthys have been trying for a decade to take out the group 1 feature.

The now New South Wales-based McCarthys ventured from Queensland with Trois Frere in 2003 – finishing unplaced.

That has largely been the story for John and his son Luke – Belinda’s husband – since.

Luke McCarthy has gone the closest to capturing the former Australasian Grand Circuit race.

He finished third with top flight mare Fleur De Lil in 2009.

The McCarthys’ other Ballarat Pacing Cup runners over a 10-year span have been Cobbity Classic in 2005, Slipnslide in 2006 and 2008, family has been trying to continue his conthy the amCathymach alert and grand campaigner Be Good Johnny in 2008 and 2010.

Mach Alert is in his first season tackling the big league.

The Queensland Derby winner as a three-year-old two seasons ago finished third to Bitobliss and Caribbean Blaster in the Kilmore Pacing Cup.

In his latest outing, Mach Alert finished second to another Ballarat Pacing Cup candidate Decorated Cup in the Classic Classic at Melton on Victoria Cup night on December 15.

He lines up in an M2-M4 pace, 2300m, at Menangle tonight.

The WA-owned Washakie has won 50 times for $1.6m in stakes in stellar career, which has seen victories in four Treuer Memorials at Bankstown, Queensland Pacing Championship, Australian Pacing Championship and WA Pacing Cup.

Rowse said he was delighted with the way the Ballarat Pacing Cup was shaping up, with Bendigo Pacing Cup winner Sushi Sushi and last-start SA Cup winner Smoken Up returning along with last year’s winner Highview Tommy and last-start Horsham Cup winner Melpark Major.

The cup program again features $20,000 standing start feature, The Pure Steel, 2710m, which has become a major lead-up to the $400,000AG Hunter Cup on Saturday, February 2.

The cup field will be declared on Tuesday morning, with the barrier draw to immediately take place at a breakfast at Bray Raceway.

david.brehaut@fairfaxmedia.com.au