Singo takes a chance on Don Hugo

The most flamboyant and high-profile of harness racing’s TAB Eureka slot holders, John Singleton, has changed tack this year.

Singleton and his team of advisors created a qualifying race, dubbed “The Singo”, to choose their slot runner in last year’s inaugural running of the $2.1mil TAB Eureka.

This year they have opted to hand pick a partner, landing on the luckless and very much in-form four-year-old Don Hugo (Art Major).

It gives champion horseman Luke McCarthy a chance to successfully defend his crown, having won last year’s TAB Eureka with a late pick-up drive on Emma Stewart’s star mare Encipher.

McCarthy trains and drives Don Hugo, who convinced Singleton to lock in a deal with a fantastic and brave second in last Saturday night’s $350,000 Group 1 Rising Sun at Albion Park.

“We weighed-up all our options and Don Hugo is a horse our team has been following for a while now,” Singleton said. “He was clearly the run of the race the other night and he looks like a horse still on the improve at the right time.”

McCarthy was delighted to lock Don Hugo into a spot in the world’s richest harness race.

“Gee he deserves it. I was so glad to get the call because there aren’t a lot of slots left and I really felt this guy should be in the field,” he said.

“I know a lot has been made of how big his race was in the Rising Sun, but he’s been going really well all campaign without any luck. He’s gone to another level since he ran that great second (to Extreme Sea) in the big race (Riverina Championship final) at Wagga (March 31).”

McCarthy said winning last year’s TAB Eureka aboard Encipher was one of the biggest thrills of his career.

“It was the first running of the race, the chance to drive that mare (Encipher) only came late and the atmosphere on track was amazing. It felt like such a big occasion,” he said.

“The build-up around the race was fantastic and to come out and upstage horses like Leap To Fame and Catch A Wave with the mare was pretty awesome.

“It’s great to be in it again and to team up, especially with someone like Singo, who adds so much to the PR of the race with his profile, is fantastic.”

McCarthy said Don Hugo’s next run would be in the 4YO Championship at Albion Park on Saturday week (July 27).

“Then he’ll head back home and we’ll give him another couple of runs at Menangle to have him spot on for the TAB Eureka,” he said.

Don Hugo’s owner Tony Licastro, who races him under his Kingstead Lodge banner, is thrilled to be in the TAB Eureka.

“He’s a horse who has flown under the radar and not got a lot of recognition, so it’s great to see someone really take notice of him,” he said.

“It will be a hell of a ride from here, I can tell you.”

TAB EUREKA RUNNER PROFILE: DON HUGO

4yo entire. By Art Major from Cinco Amigos.

TAB Eureka slot: John Singleton

Owner: Kingstead Lodge (Tony Licastro)

Trainer-driver: Luke McCarthy

Record: 35 starts; 9 wins; 9 seconds, 7 thirds

Prize money: $225,504

BEST RUNS:

2nd 2024 Gp1 Rising Sun

2nd 2024 Riverina C’ship Final

3rd 2023 Stockade (TAB Eureka consolation)

2nd 2023 APG 3YO Gold Bullion Final

3rd 2022 Vicbred 2YO final