Racing: McCarthy feels good before Cup

Mr Feelgood has worked well right-handed at Albion ark. Photo / Gary Wild

If you are worried about backing Mr Feelgood in Friday night's Auckland Cup because he has never raced right-handed before, don't be.

Queensland trainer-driver Luke McCarthy is adamant it won't be an issue for the veteran superstar.

Mr Feelgood and stablemate Washakie arrive in Auckland tomorrow morning with vastly differing draws and levels of local experience going into Friday's $400,000 thriller.

Washakie has drawn perfectly at barrier one and, being formerly trained by Steven Reid at Pukekohe, has raced at Alexandra Park 23 times for eight wins. Mr Feelgood, who has had one of the most diverse careers in racing history, has never raced right-handed and has barrier 13.

McCarthy says a sensational workout at Albion Park on Saturday night allayed any fears he had about the change of direction.

"They worked together over 800m in 54.7 seconds, their final 400m in 26, and they don't go much faster than that," said McCarthy.

"I suppose like any horse trying the track for the first time, if he got trapped out wide it would be an issue, but I don't see that happening."

Mr Feelgood rates alongside Themightyquinn as the star of the Australian Grand Circuit this season, with his amazing Victoria Cup win in December.

He has raced only once since but McCarthy says he is ready for a real 2700m on Friday.

"He is not a horse who needs a lot of racing and he felt awesome last start.

"Sure, the draw is not great but I am hoping the speed is on early and then I wouldn't be too concerned if I had to sit parked later."

Washakie had been the better backed of the two McCarthy-trained pacers, though, moving in from $18 to $12 in the Auckland Cup.

He has the gate speed to lead from barrier one for Luke's father, John.

"He gets the chance to stay there and be hard to beat but there could be good gate speed on the front line and a bit of pressure.

"But I'll leave that one up to Dad, he can drive his race and I'll drive mine."

Mr Feelgood is one of the favourites for the Interdominions, which start at Alexandra Park on March 25, but has been largely unloved in the Auckland Cup market so far.

He opened at $5.50 but moved out to $6.50 last night, almost certainly the longest his quote will get this week.

But so open are both the Cup and the Interdominions that any one of Themightyquinn, Auckland Reactor Stunin Cullen, Monkey King, De Lovely or Mr Feelgood could be the target for some serious punting action this week.

And any of that group could leapfrog to the head of Interdominion markets should they win the Auckland Cup.

And still to be added to that mix for the Interdominions are Smoken Up and Sleepy Tripp, who both recorded comeback wins at the weekend, Smiling Shard, Villagem and Bettor's Strike.