National Trotguide
READY TO BOUNCE BACK: Spirit Of St Louis.

Interstate trip on the cards

Paul Courts

ANOTHER trip south of the border is on the cards for quality pacer Spirit Of St Louis.

With key features such as the Ballarat and A G Hunter Cups scheduled during the next few weeks, trainer Belinda McCarthy is considering crossing the Murray once again with the son of Sweet Lou.

Spirit Of St Louis signalled his arrival at the top level during a raid last January, which saw the gelding capture the Shepparton, Bendigo and Ballarat Cups.

Spirit Of St Louis was also runner-up behind his stablemate, King Of Swing, in the Hunter Cup.

With the six-year-old engaged in a free-for-all at Club Menangle tomorrow night, McCarthy will use the outing as a deciding factor relating to the Victorian campaign.

Spirit Of St Louis hasn’t raced since finishing last in the Inter Dominion Final at Tabcorp Park Melton on December 10.

Mixing his form during the Championship, Spirit Of St Louis was successful in the second heat, but unplaced during the first and third rounds.

“He had a freshen up after the Inter Dominion which did him the world of good,” McCarthy said. “I’m very happy with the way he has been working and expect him to go well on Saturday night.

“If he runs to expectations we’ll look at taking him down for the Ballarat and Hunter Cups in a couple of weeks.

“Expensive Ego, which will race at Menangle again next week, may also go down for the Hunter Cup.”

To be driven by Jack Callaghan, Spirit Of St Louis has drawn barrier eight over 2300 metres.

TAB Fixed Odds have Spirit Of St Louis listed as a $2 favourite, with his stablemate, Mach Shard, considered the biggest threat at $2.60.

McCarthy’s reinsman-husband, Luke, will partner the son of Mach Three, which will begin from gate nine.

Elsewhere on the card, Tasty Delight is in a strong position to return to the winners’ circle in the New Years Gift Final.

Runner-up in his heat when returning from a four-month spell, Tasty Delight has drawn to lead throughout from barrier two.

The Brian Portelli-trained gelding is a $2.10 favourite with TAB Fixed Odds.