Don Hugo and Tact McLeod confirmed for The Race

By Adam Hamilton 

The Race by betcha just went up another notch.

In a surprise twist, Miracle Mile winner Don Hugo will join Aussie champion Leap To Fame in the $1 million feature at Cambridge on April 4.

A deal was finalised between slot owner Josh Davine and Don Hugo’s owner, Tony Licastro on Monday.

And emerging Kiwi star Tact McLeod, who ran a terrific third to Don Hugo in the Miracle Mile, gained a Race by betcha slot when the owners of Aussie star Catch A Wave changed plans. 
 
Trainer-driver Luke McCarthy was thrilled with the Don Hugo news.

“He’s come through the Miracle Mile so well, he’s bouncing around,” he said. “I’ve let Tony do the deal and said I’d be happy to go.

“He’s in the zone, this horse. He’s raring to go again.

“He’ll either have a race here (Menangle) or a private trial before we head over on a flight on the Sunday before the race.”

It sets up a rematch with Leap To Fame after Don Hugo levelled their head-to-head record at 1-1 in last Saturday night’s $1mil Miracle Mile.

“It’s great for the race and we’ve shown we can beat him now,” McCarthy said.

Don Hugo completed an historic treble of Menangle feature wins the Miracle Mile. It followed the TAB Eureka and Inter Dominion final last year.

Leap To Fame is now expected on the same flight as Don Hugo.

“We’ve changed our mind a few times on what’s best and have decided to get him back home for a few days,” trainer-driver Grant Dixon said.

“That means we will most likely not run in the sprint race at Cambridge the week before and wait to put him on the flight the Sunday before the big race.”

Tact McLeod's caretaker trainer Anthony Butt was delighted with the twist.

"He deserved a slot and the Cambridge track will suit him with his gate speed," he said.

The slot, owned by Catch A Wave's owners the Matthews family, decided to focus on the Nullarbor instead.

"We think it fits better, so we then did a deal for Tact McLeod to race in the slot," Catch A Wave's trainer Andy Gath said. 
 
Back to McCarthy and he said he was excited to chase another feature race in NZ.

“I’ve been over with a few horses. Mr Feelgood ran second to Im Themightyquinn in an Auckland Cup, For A Reason was third in an NZ Cup and a three-year-old I had, Allblack Stride, ran placed in a Harness Jewels and Sires’ Stake final,” he said.

“I’ve got lots of friends I’ve met over the years there too, it’ll be great to get back.”

Don Hugo’s shock addition to Race by Betcha doesn’t mean he will skip the $1.25mil Group 1 Nullarbor at Perth’s Gloucester Park on April 25.

“No, the plan is to do both,” McCarthy said. “We’re in the middle of trying to sort flights now. He can fly Sydney to Auckland, but then Auckland back to Melbourne and get a flight from Melbourne over to Perth.

“It’s great there’s three weeks between races so it makes it very doable.

“He’s a stallion in the zone and they bounce out of races so well, just as he has the Miracle Mile.

“As long as he’s good after the Cambridge race, we will push on to Perth.”