Don Hugo back after fourth at $1m The Race by betcha

By Adam Hamilton 

Luke McCarthy has urged fans not to judge Don Hugo too harshly for his disappointing Cambridge display.

The champion horseman explained Don Hugo was found to have a virus after his tiring fourth to Leap To Fame in the $1mil Race by betcha at Cambridge on April 4.

A subsequent Perth trip was aborted and Don Hugo had a short spell.

“Leap To Fame was just amazing that night, he was too good. I’m not taking anything away from him, but I know we didn’t have the best Don Hugo. I think his form before it showed that,’ McCarthy said.

“He came home with a virus and needed some time out, so it explains the run.”

Leap To Fame’s Cambridge win gave him a 2-1 edge over Don Hugo from three clashes and at will renew acquaintances as then two big guns in next month’s Brisbane Inter Dominion series.

Leap To Fame dominates pre post betting at $1.55 for the $1 million final on July 19, while Don Hugo is a standout second elect at $4.

“I’m sure we’ll be really competitive against him and you want to take him on, he’s the best around and one of the best we’ve seen,” McCarthy said.

“No doubt the long distance of the final (3157m) plays to Leap To Fame because he’s such a great stayer, but we’ve got to go in optimistic and give it a real crack.”

Don Hugo returns to racing at Menangle on Saturday night.

“It’ll be his first of two lead-up runs. He’ll back up the week after. I want to give him these two runs, then have three weeks between runs into the first round of heats (July 5),” McCarthy said.

“He’s as ready as I can have him. He enjoyed the time out, had a trial two weeks back and I took him back into Menangle last week for a solid hit out.”

Don Hugo is one of a big team McCarthy is taking to Queensland for an extended raid on the winter riches.

Also in the team are high-class Kiwi pair Coastal Babe and Beach Ball, who has impressed McCarthy since joining his Cobbitty stable.

The big spending Josh Davine bought Coastal Babe, while one of McCarthy’s major owners, Mick Harvey, now races Beach Ball.

“I really like them both,” he said. “Beach Ball will go to the Inter Dominion with ‘Hugo’, while Coastal Babe will join my other top mare, Eye Keep Smiling, in all the good mares’ races in Brisbane.”

McCarthy confirmed Eye Keep Smiling, Australia’s top ranked mare, and exciting three-year-old Hesitate would also race at Menangle on Saturday night.

“Eye Keep Smiling is airborne and I’ll just keep her ticking along, while Hesitate is back from a bit of a break and he seems terrific.

“Hesitate will go towards the Queensland Derby and Mac Bon will, too, but I’ll take him through the Redcliffe Derby.

“I’ll also take Soho Americano up for Mick Stanley (trainer) to have a crack at the (Queensland) Oaks.”