Racing: Be Good Johnny proves too good for Kiwi contingent

MELBOURNE - Brent Mangos says New Zealand's best pacers can still foot it with Australia's elite even after a Victoria Cup whitewash.

New Zealand's five representatives couldn't do better than fifth in Saturday night's A$300,000 ($323,000) Cup, won by the new superstar of Australasian pacing Be Good Johnny.

But Mangos, who drove Alta Serena to fifth, says the result doesn't spell the end of New Zealand's Interdominion hopes.

"I think our top horses are at least as good as theirs and maybe better," said Mangos.

"We just had no luck tonight. If I had got a better run I am sure Alta Serena would have won because she was flying home.

"She is as good as the winner and we still have some top horses at home who weren't here tonight."

Alta Serena was the hard luck story of the race as the South Auckland-trained mare was pushed back to last at the top of the straight before roaring home to be beaten in a photo for fourth.

She had settled handy early in the race but multiple changes in the running line saw her last at the 400m, ending her chances.

"In retrospect I should have pulled out and gone forward with her at the bell [lap to go]. At the time I didn't think she could do that and still win but the way she finished I think she could have now."

Alta Serena returns home to race at Alexandra Park on Friday night and Saturday's performance confirmed her position at the head of the markets for the Auckland Cup on December 31.

She was clearly the best of the Kiwis, although Winforu also made ground late after losing a short-lived battle for the early lead while Mister D G battled into a close-up sixth after having the perfect trip three deep on the markets.

The New Zealand assault for the next round of major Australian races, the Ballarat and Hunter Cups in six weeks time, will be boosted by horses like Just An Excuse, Howard Bromac, Bobs Blue Boy and White Arrow.

But they will all need to produce something special to down Be Good Johnny, who has emerged as the most complete pacer in the Australasian open class ranks.

On Saturday night he showed gate speed to hold the lead from barrier one before trainer-driver John McCarthy elected to take a trail behind Dinki Di.

That almost looked to be a mistake as it took him the length of the Moonee Valley home straight to pull that advantage back, grabbing victory in the last 20m.

Sting Like A Bee rushed into third just ahead of the winner's stablemate Slipnslide, who was cost a better placing when pushed back by a stopping Robin Hood on the home bend.

The latter cost punters a fortune when he raced lengths below his best, being a beaten horse down the back straight.

The win of Be Good Johnny continued a remarkable season for Queensland's father and son training team of McCarthy and his son Luke.

The pair train Be Good Johnny, Slipnslide and Cobbity Classic, who between them have won the first five races on the Australian Grand Circuit.

Slipnslide started the roll in the Queensland Pacing Championship before Be Good Johnny won the Trans-Tasman Championship under exactly the same circumstances as Saturday night's race. They then quinellaed the Miracle Mile before Slipnslide won the Treuer Memorial.

Saturday night's win takes the stable's haul to A$1.185 million ($1.276 million) with the pair in just six weeks.

The efforts have also restored pride to Queensland harness racing, which has been an open class joke for the last decade.

But McCarthy was refreshingly realistic about what the win meant in the grand scheme for a mixed up open class season in Australasia.

"I am not sure he is the best pacer in Australia," he said. "After all he had the run to win tonight, as he did when he won the Trans-Tasman.

"I think he might be but at the moment that doesn't matter to us. We are just enjoying this while we can. It is all a bit hard to believe."

That dream looks set to continue as McCarthy's pair are the pacers to beat in any race they contest for the remainder of the season, especially as Mainland Banner will not venture to Australia this season and New Zealand's other best pacer so far this season, Sly Flyin, is out injured.

Be Good Johnny will now return to Queensland and have to qualify from a standing start so he can contest the A$500,000 Hunter Cup at Moonee Valley in February. After that he heads with his stablemates to the Tasmanian Interdominions, for which he is $5 early favourite.