Racing: Comeback capped off

For A Reason capped one of the greatest years in the history of Australasian harness racing training by winning Saturday's A$400,000 Victoria Cup.

The comeback pacer, who served 45 mares at stud last year, overcame a second-line draw to beat Caribbean Blaster and Kiwi superstar Christen Me, who stormed home from last in the sizzling 2240m group one.

For A Reason's win owed much to driver and unofficial trainer Luke McCarthy, who gambled early by letting Caribbean Blaster into a gap in front of him, hoping he would later tow him into the race.

He was right, which pretty much sums up McCarthy's amazing last 12 months.

While his wife, Belinda, officially trains their mega team at Menangle, it is in reality a partnership and their dominance now rivals the incredible record of the Purdons when Roy and Barry were in partnership 20 years ago.

For A Reason's Victoria Cup is added to a 2013 list which includes the Miracle Mile (April's edition), Queensland Pacing Champs, Ladyship Mile, Queen Of The Pacific, Cranbourne Cup, two Breeders Crown Finals, the Australian Pacing Gold, Bathurst Gold Crown, Seymour Nursery and NSW Breeders Challenge.

Making that more incredible is that most of those huge wins came with different horses so it is not a case of one or two champs making their stable, the McCarthys produce a consistently high level of excellence.

Christen Me lost no fans in third and is likely to race at Alexandra Park and Cambridge over the new year.

The night's other group one, the A$50,000 Dullard Cup was won by Kiwi mare Habibti, who landed some big bets beating fellow Canterbury trotter Vulcan.

A darling of the group one races last season at 3, Habibti is a rarity in being a 4-year-old trotter good enough to win at the highest level, let alone a mare doing it.

She is now likely to head to Cambridge next week before returning to Melbourne later in the summer.