Don Hugo locked in for $1.25m Nullarbor

REIGNING Miracle Mile champion Don Hugo (Art Major) is poised to become the most decorated pacer to contest Western Australia’s richest harness race, the $1.25 million Nullarbor.

In a coup for the Group 1 race, Ladbrokes has sealed a deal with the connections of Don Hugo to race in its slot in the Nullarbor at Gloucester Park on April 17.

Trained and driven by champion NSW horseman Luke McCarthy, Don Hugo has won the Miracle Mile, Ladbrokes Inter Dominion final, Eureka and Ladbrokes Blacks A Fake in the past 18 months.

“It’s awesome to lock this in so early,” McCarthy said. “As a trainer, knowing it’s a done deal allows us to build everything around it, rather than having to worry about it close to the race.

“I love getting over to Perth when I’ve got the right horse and Don Hugo is certainly that. It looks a great race for him.

“The Nullarbor has become one of the most sought-after races on the calendar in just a few years and it’ll be fantastic to have a horse in it, who I believe will be as hard to beat as any.”

Such has been Don Hugo’s rise to stardom, he has beaten Leap To Fame, a pacer widely regarded as one of the best Australasia has ever seen, twice this year in the Miracle Mile on March 8 and the Ladbrokes Blacks A Fake earlier this year.

“Luke and I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Don Hugo yet, either,” owner Tony Licastro said.

“He really just had this past year racing in the big league and achieved so much. We think his next year could be his best.

“Leap To Fame is as good a horse as I’ve seen and just to race him is a privilege … to beat him twice is amazing.”

Licastro said chasing the Nullarbor next just felt right after an aborted attempt this year.

“We planned to do the slot race in NZ and come back to the Nullarbor, but he got sick after the NZ race and that changed everything,” he said.

“This time it’s all about Perth. That’s our target.

“Now we can sit down and work out a program between now and the Nullarbor. I know Luke thinks defending his Miracle Mile crown is top of the list because it’s such a suitable race for the horse.”

Ladbrokes Director of Industry and External Affairs, Andrew Hannan added: “We’re beyond excited to partner with a proven superstar like Don Hugo and looking forward to sharing the experience with Luke and Tony.

“We thrilled to be able to throw our support behind the Nullarbor with the best credentialled horse to run in it and also to get people talking about the race so far out.”

Don Hugo will be out to continue the strong record of interstate raiders in the Nullarbor. The NSW-trained Betterzippit won the first running in 2023 then Victoria’s Catch A Wave saluted in 2024.

Mister Smartee became the first locally trained winner earlier this year.

McCarthy’s only drive in the Nullarbor was in this year’s race when second aboard the Greg and Skye Bond-trained Gee Heza Sport behind Mister Smartee.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia