Luke McCarthy. Photo by Brett Atkins
There are very few feats in harness racing that Sydney trainer, driver Luke McCarthy has not achieved, but one race that has eluded him throughout his illustrious career is the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Final.
Known as one of the best big race reinsmen worldwide, McCarthy appears likely to get his best chance yet to break his Inter Dominion hoodoo this Saturday night when he partners TAB Eureka winner and pre-race favourite Don Hugo in the $500,000 final at Tabcorp Park Menangle.
Trained by McCarthy and owned by Tony Licastro, the four-year-old entire has gone to the next level in 2024, and all is falling into place for Don Hugo for Saturday’s big dance after he drew ideally in gate three.
Whichever way you look at how the race pattern may pan out, all points towards Don Hugo gaining a good run and with McCarthy’s impeccable record as a Group 1 reinsman, it is not surprising that the keen judges have him on top.
After his heat run on night one at Newcastle, some doubted the stallion’s genuine claims in the series after starting a short-priced favourite and leading for majority of the race, before dropping out to finish fifth.
But that was all erased after his brilliant performances on nights two and three with the stallion winning both heats, particularly at Menangle last Saturday where he looked right at home on the spacious circuit.
“I partly blame myself for his below par effort at Newcastle,” McCarthy explained.
“I did not have him totally screwed down, thinking that he had the four tough runs ahead of him.
“And that just proved that you cannot be behind the eight ball in any way when competing against these better horses.
“But I was pleased with the way he bounced back, and everything is positive going into the final.”
Following the barrier draw however, there has been a lot of hype around the horse drawn directly outside of Don Hugo, namely My Moonlight Dream who clearly holds the key to the early battle for supremacy with her tremendous gate speed.
There is little doubt that the lone mare in the field will find the pegs first, but it is expected that her driver Seaton Grima will be looking for a trialling position shortly after the gates fold.
If it is Don Hugo that can assume the lead, he will take a power of beating.
