KEY POINTS:
John McCarthy says he has to be as brave as his horse to win tomorrow's Interdominion Pacing final.
The enormously popular Queensland horseman and his old mate, Be Good Johnny, face a tricky draw in the A$500,000 ($565,000) thriller at Globe Derby Park, but McCarthy says they are
up to the challenge.
Be Good Johnny, winner of the last two Miracle Miles, has been in career-best form during this series, producing the run of the carnival with a record-smashing win over Blacks A Fake on night two.
Had he drawn the front line tomorrow night he would have started a warm favourite but he will instead be forced to start from barrier two on the second line.
Under South Australian rules he is likely to be pushed out to three off the markers because Blacks A Fake can move up the track in the score up from his draw of one on the second line.
That means McCarthy faces having to work hard early to stay ahead of his fellow Queenslander and then maybe even harder to get to leader Winforu.
But it only took him one look at Be Good Johnny on Wednesday morning to wipe away the initial fears he had after Tuesday night's barrier draw.
"When I first saw the draw I thought we were in trouble," said McCarthy. "But the more I look at it the more I like it."
Part of that faith comes from the fact Be Good Johnny has never looked better and is handling the series far more comfortably than he did in Hobart last year.
"Last year by this stage I was trying to keep him in one piece leading into the final and he got there about an eight out of 10 fitness-wise.
"This time he will be spot on, 10 out of 10.
"He feels great and is so much stronger than last season."
McCarthy says he therefore has to believe in his life-changing pacer and drive him to control the race rather than wait for luck, as he would have for most of his career.
"The way I look at it, our destiny is in our own hands," says McCarthy.
"I think Blacks A Fake might be able to slide into the gap behind Winforu at the start but that would put us behind Smooth Crusa, who is also a good beginner.
"Then I have to trust the horse and keep pressing forward, keeping Blacks A Fake inside me.
"If I do that I am sure I can get to the position parked outside Winforu and from there I can make some decisions.
"I could take the leader on, or I can decide to leave Blacks A Fake three wide if he comes looking for my spot.
"Either way, I have to believe in myself and the horse enough to drive him like the good horse he is."
While Be Good Johnny won a Miracle sitting parked last season he is at his best when racing against the markers, as he showed when downing Blacks A Fake in this season's Miracle Mile.
But his new strength and mental toughness has been on display at this carnival, first when he worked hard early to beat Blacks A Fake in round two and then when he all but grabbed Winforu after sitting parked last Saturday.
His biggest problem has been when he is asked to sprint wide on the track, which tends to see him pace roughly.
So that gives McCarthy even more reason to spend the energy to get parked early tonight rather than save him for the final sprint this tight track is not conducive to.
Blacks a Fake stayed a strong favourite with bookies throughout Australasia last night but can be expected to start longer than his $2.20 quote on the tote, especially with so many states having strong representatives.
The good news for the three Kiwis in the final was that the very hot conditions on Wednesday, when the mercury reached 37C, are not expected to be a factor tomorrow night.
* Latest pacing final odds: $2.20 Blacks A Fake; $5 Be Good Johnny, Winforu; $6 Robin Hood; $12 Foreal, Tribute; $30 Smooth Crusa, Reba Rajah, Karloo Mick; $50 Toe Taper; $80 Franco Heir.