Ashlor ($3.50F) edged out Essence Of Terror ($6.50) by a length in the $100,000 race after drawing barrier one.

“We knew Our Luca would lead and the plan was to be positive enough to not give it an easy lead, make it work hard enough,” McCarthy said.

“The aim was to then loop out, sit on his outside and make sure we got off the fence, so we wouldn’t be pocketed.

“It worked perfectly, it’s not often that key-race plans go exactly as you’d like.”

It was jockey Daniel Stackhouse’s third successive ride, including the photo-finish for fourth in the Group One Winterbottom Stakes in Perth on December 1.

McCarthy is now targeting the Listed WJ Adams Stakes at Caulfield on February 2 before contesting the Group One Oakleigh Plate three weeks later.

Meanwhile, another Border-North East trainer grabbed second in a high-profile interstate feature.

Albury trainer Mitch Beer’s Dreams of Paris ($9) was beaten by 1¾ lengths by Count Da Vinci ($3.70) in the $100,000 Tasmanian Stakes (1600m) on Friday.

And a handful of Border and North East trainers saluted at Corowa’s seven-race program on Sunday, including Pat Widdup’s Talk to Amanda ($6) and McCarthy’s The Raven ($2.20F).