"I can't believe it really, even after placing in a couple of races tonight (Sunday) I'm still trying to work out what's actually happened. All I can say is that fate was very kind to me and even though I was almost 300 miles away from the racetrack you could say I was in the right place at the right time," McCarthy told Harnesslink from Lexington in Kentucky.

"I'm also certain that if I wasn't Andrew's brother none of this would have happened. We drive similar and I'd driven a couple of times for Greg (Peck-trainer) before. I actually won for him behind Guida Muscle and Cantabmyway at The Red Mile, so he knew how I drove. He took a chance and it worked out for him, the 26-year-old added.

Rain, ensured the Du Quoin State Fair's racing card was delayed for six hours, from noon to 6pm. An eight-man track crew worked on the racing surface for four-and-a-half hours. The delay meant five of the nine World Trotting Derby drivers, including Muscle Hill's (by Muscles Yankee) driver, Brian Sears, were forced to head for Ontario's Mohawk Raceway where they were scheduled to drive in Stakes races that evening.

It was Peck who blew McCarthy right away with a phone just on 3pm race-day, but McCarthy got a whiff of the call before it happened.

"My Irish mate Joe Hanney phoned me prior saying a lot of the top drivers had to go to Canada to drive in the big stakes races there. Joe put in the good word. He rang me about it but I didn't believe him. I thought he was having me on. Then true to his (Joe) word, Greg phoned me. Wow I'll never forget that call!" said McCarthy.

When Peck asked if he could make the (9pm-9.30pm) race in time McCarthy didn't hesitate getting in the car to make the four-and-half hour trip (295 miles) to the Du Quoin State Fair in Illinois.

"On the way there I was thinking how my Saturday was supposed to happen. We were all set to go out have a meal, do a bit of shopping and then watch Muscle Hill's race simulcast on the big screen. I only arrived here at the end of May and I'm going back to home to Australia in early October. I thought how could this happen to me - driving the best trotter in the world - maybe ever? That's why it's so hard to get it to sink in. Fate definitely played a big part," McCarthy said.

McCarthy is in his first season of driving in the United States. He has now driven 13 winners and 36 place-getters from 140 starts. He has also netted $411,750 in stakes. He believed any driver would have won behind Muscle Hill on Saturday.

"Greg told me to drive him like a good horse and try to stay out of trouble. I was nervous as hell before the race. I've been lucky enough to drive some of the best horses in Australia and almost every big race Down Under, but to come here and get the opportunity to drive Muscle Hill, that's just something else."

"Even the older generations of trotting folk here say Muscle Hill is the best trotter they have seen. And that's something because there's been a lot of good trotters come out of North America," McCarthy said.

McCarthy had the brilliant son of Muscles Yankee third early but when they moved to the front in the second quarter it was virtually game over from that point. The champion won virtually untouched.

"He felt enormous, he could have gone a lot faster," McCarthy said.

Peck had the following to say on McCarthy's drive:

"It worked out great. Luke did the right thing. He just kept a good hold of him and I could see he wanted to get around there as uneventfully as possible and that's what he did. It was a nice drive."

Asked if he was tempted to relocate to the United States like his younger brother Andrew, McCarthy replied:

"It would be nice to maybe come here one day and do some driving, but I have a team back home and lots of loyal owners who I am committed to. I'll be back in time to drive Washakie at the Queensland Carnival, starting with the Gold Coast Cup on October 2."

Because of Muscle Hill's sheer speed and perfect gate, the World Trotting Championship would always be rated as a career highlight for McCarthy. It even suprcedes his many Group victories achieved back home, including the Chariots of Fire and Breeders Crown victories with Slip N Slide and Fleur De Lil respectively.

"Up until yesterday Be Good Johnny and Slip N Slide were the best racehorses I have driven. Now there's no question whatsoever who the best I've sat behind is. Winning that race was the highlight of my career. He's just a real smooth, fast motorcar," McCarthy said.

That fast motorcar has now won 15 of his 16 starts and ran second in the other for more than $2.1 million in career earnings. He is owned by Jerry Silva, Thomas and Louis Pontone, Southwind Farm and Muscle Hill Racing.

If there was a negative on Saturday, McCarthy said he felt for his brother who he had he been available would have experienced the "thrill of a lifetime".

"I couldn't believe how many thousands of people just flocked to the racetrack when Muscle Hill's race was on. They all gathered around him and treated him like the hero he is.

"Then when the race was over they were all gone in a flash. They only came to see one horse and he didn't disappoint. I felt a bit sorry for Andrew even though he had other drives elsewhere. He could have been sitting in the sulky and not me," McCarthy said.

Duane RANGER (editor)