Don Hugo. Photo courtesy HRNSW
THE TAB Eureka was built to shape the future of Aussie harness racing and it is certainly doing just that.
For the second time in its two-year history, the world’s richest harness race is proving the defining form line for the Inter Dominion.
In its inaugural running last year, TAB Eureka runner-up, Leap To Fame, went on less than four months later to thrash his rivals in the Brisbane Inter Dominion final.
He’s since added wins in the Hunter Cup, Miracle Mile and Blacks A Fake to stamp himself as one of the all-time greats of Australasian pacing and, arguably, the best pacer in the world.
Fellow Queenslander, Speak The Truth, ran an eye-catching fifth in last year’s TAB Eureka before winning a heat of the Brisbane Inter Dominion series and finishing sixth in the final.
Fast-forward to September 7 this year when the Luke McCarthy-trained and driven Don Hugo led throughout to humble his rivals in the TAB Eureka at Menangle.
While some query the depth of this year’s TAB Eureka, McCarthy immediately set his star four-year-old for the NSW Inter Dominion series.
After a moderate start when fifth after leading at Newcastle on opening night, Don Hugo has brilliantly won his second and third round heats.
Now, aided by an ideal barrier three in next Saturday night’s $500,000 final at Menangle, Don Hugo is a hot $2.60 favourite to become the first horse to complete the TAB Eureka/Inter Dominion final double.
Just as importantly, Brad Hewitt’s star four-year-old is considered one of Don Hugo’s main dangers and he also comes through the TAB Eureka.
Captains Knock drew awfully in the TAB Eureka and finished seventh, but he has continued to thrive in open class racing since.
The son of Captaintreacherous won two of his three qualifying heats and ran a luckless third in the other at Bathurst.
Captains Knock has another tricky draw (inside back row, gate nine), but is still right in the market at $5.50 for Saturday night’s feature.
