McCarthy is planning to accept with Murt The Flirt in Saturday's Magic Millions Sprint
Caulfield trainer Brendan McCarthy is sweating on Murt The Flirt getting a flight to Queensland later this week to compete at the Magic Millions race day for the third-straight year.
McCarthy is planning to accept with Murt The Flirt in Saturday’s Magic Millions Sprint (1200m) but says the gelding is not yet locked in on a flight north.
Murt The Flirt has finished fifth in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas and fourth in the Magic Millions Cup in the past two years.
His participation in Saturday’s $1 million race will depend on whether he can get on a flight from Melbourne this week.
“I spoke to the bloke this morning and there’s still no certainty at the moment,” McCarthy said.
“He said there’s a load going tonight and one tomorrow night and one Wednesday night. And we can get on on Thursday night if the flights go each night.”
McCarthy said he had been told if there happened to be a hold-up and one of the flights didn’t leave for one reason or another, it would get pushed back a day.
“So at the moment we’re on the stand-by list but aren’t definite,” the trainer said.
“We’ll be accepting on Wednesday and hopefully getting on a plane on Wednesday night or Thursday night.”
Murt The Flirt was entered to run at Caulfield on Saturday but connections opted to scratch him with the Millions in mind.
McCarthy believes the gelding has come on since his unplaced Christmas Stakes run and has applied blinkers and given some work over jumps to sharpen him up.
Chris Symons will ride Murt The Flirt should he run at the Gold Coast.
McCarthy believes the gelding is ready to put his best foot forward and is hoping the five-year-old can improve on his previous Millions performances.
Closer to home, McCarthy has booked Michael Dee to ride Divine Mr Artie in Saturday’s Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
Craig Williams has been aboard Divine Mr Artie in his two starts this preparation but will be riding at the Gold Coast.
