The young Aussie driver teams with a trio owned by champion trainer Luke McCarthy.

by Adam Hamilton

Young Aussie Brad Chisholm is starting to make his mark in the U.S.

The 26-year-old’s biggest opportunity yet comes at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Sept. 1) when he will team with the first three U.S. horses owned by champion Aussie trainer Luke McCarthy.

Chisholm drove the trio — Bondi Lockdown, Mahomes and Muscle Bart — to win qualifiers at Chester last Tuesday (Aug. 20) and was thrilled when McCarthy told him he would take the reins for their first races.

“It was a bit of a surprise,” Chisholm said. “I’m chuffed. Right place, right time, I guess.

“So many of the big-name drivers — probably the top six — will be driving in Kentucky, so it opens the door for me. I’ll take it.

“It’s exciting to be part of Luke’s start over here.”

McCarthy, 41, is no stranger to the U.S., having spent plenty of time there over the years, including a stint which saw him drive the great Muscle Hill to win the 2009 World Trotting Derby.

And, of course, he is the older brother of Andy and Todd, who have enjoyed huge success in the U.S.

Luke plans to spend a lot more time in the U.S., but is currently heavily committed in Australia with the world’s richest race, the $2.1-million TAB Eureka on Sept. 7. He trains two of the 10 starters – Eye Keep Smiling and Don Hugo.

But Luke did squeeze in a quick recent trip to the States to check on five horses that he and some fellow owners sent across from Australia to continue their career about four months ago.

For now, Luke’s horses are in the care of friend Aaron Lambert.

In addition to Bondi Lockdown, Mahomes and Muscle Bart, Luke has also sent across two former top level Aussie Grand Circuit pacers in Spirit of St Louis and Expensive Ego.

Spirit Of St Louis is the most decorated of them. He’s raced 78 times for 28 wins, 24 placings — so many in the biggest races Down Under — and won almost $1.5 million.

Expensive Ego, who was an outstanding younger pacer, has also earned almost $1 million with 25 wins from just 57 starts, while Bondi Lockdown earned almost $500,000 with his 17 wins.

They were three serious Down Under pacers.

“There’s some serious class amongst them,” Chisholm said. “Bondi Lockdown went 1:52 winning the qualifier last week, but Spirit of St Louis was just as good finishing third.

“They both surprised me,” Chisholm said. “You don’t often see horses, even as good as them, go that quick at their first qualifier. But Luke’s done it well. They’ve been here four months and had a long slow build-up with plenty of time to settle in, getting used to the new surroundings and the humidity, which is crazy here. They’ve had a great foundation.

“I expect them all to [race] well this week on what they did at the trials.”

Chisholm, who drove 178 winners Down Under, moved to the U.S. in March, last year and started working for Richard “Nifty” Norman on April 1.

“It’s been great,” Chisholm said. “Nifty’s been awesome. As the driving opportunities have grown for me in recent times, we make it work. I live on the farm and I’m here every morning and we’ll make a plan if I’ve got drives somewhere. We know four days in advance.

“Moving here was on my mind for a long time. I was born here, so I’ve got dual citizenship, which is a massive help. I can come and go whenever I like, but it’s home here now. I’m sure I’ll be here quite a while, apart from the occasional trip back home to see family.

“I’m not the best at organizing things, so it was really my dad [Kevin], who told me to just do it and helped me pull it all together.”

Brad’s parents, Kevin and Alison, have enjoyed plenty of success in training ranks Down Under and had a stint in the U.S. when Brad was born.

Their best horse was Australia’s top pacer of his time, Sunshine Band through the mid-1990s.

The son of Laser Hanover won 32 of his 60 starts and banked over $630,000. He won the Group 1996 WA Cup and Group 1 1995 Queensland Championship, along with finishing second in the 1996 Perth Inter Dominion final.

“He was before my time, but I’ve heard all about him and seen the replays,” Brad said with a laugh.

Brad, who said he’s nearing 30 driving wins in the U.S., is focused on making the most of his opportunities in coming months.

“It’s my chance,” he said. “As I said, the big guys are spending so much time in Kentucky, which means I might have eight or 10 drives instead of one or two.

“And I’m setting myself for a big winter. Rain or snow, I don’t care. The big names take the chance for a holiday when the racing isn’t so big, but it’s another chance for me to get more drives and set myself up. I’m so happy I made the move over now, rather than waiting until I was, say 40. I can really give it a crack now.

“I’m learning so much and I love the lifestyle. That’s a big thing, you actually have a life outside of racing here and it’s hard to get back home. Take today, it’s like a half day’s work for me. Drive an hour to Chester for a few drives, come home and go out for a beer and a steak for dinner. I’ve got time to play golf and watch sports with some mates. There’s so much to like about it.”