Photo by Brett Atkins/HRNSW
IT wouldn’t be a modern-day Hunter Cup without Luke McCarthy.
The champion NSW horseman has been the biggest player of the past decade in Victoria’s biggest and most iconic race.
And McCarthy is returning to try and add to impact with recently crowned Inter Dominion winner Don Hugo on Saturday week at Melton.
McCarthy has been a part of eight of the past 10 Hunter Cups, playing a key role training and/or driving for three wins – King Of Swing (2020 and ’22) and Bling It On (2017) – along with second and third with Alta Orlando and King Of Swing in 2021.
Given the changing landscape and circumstances, McCarthy concedes the Hunter Cup will be a step-up on Don Hugo’s last start Inter Dominion final win at Menangle on December 14.
The key factor being the presence of Leap To Fame.
“I know winning the Inter Dominion without Leap To Fame and Swayzee there meant we didn’t beat the very best, but I do think this horse is ready for them,” McCarthy said.
“Yes, it’ll be harder, but he’s just kept stepping-up that bit each campaign and, if you go on times, what he did in the Inter Dominion was terrific.”
Don Hugo took a second off the Menangle 2300m track record after lifting numerous times when asked during that enthralling last 700m stoush with seasoned WA warrior Minstrel.
The original plan was to go into the Hunter Cup first-up, but McCarthy changed his mind after Don Hugo’s sparkling Menangle trial win last Wednesday.
“Yeah, I think I’ll run him in the free-for-all at Menangle this week to top him off,” he said.
It’s channelling King Of Swing, who repeatedly used that 2300m free-for-all as his race to prime for the Hunter Cup.
“Being 2300m is even better and it suits us to stay at home as long as we can before going to Melbourne,” McCarthy said.
The light lead-up preparation doesn’t faze McCarthy.
“I know he was underdone and got beaten in that first round of Inter Dominion heats, but I thought I could get away with it and it was partly by design so he could build through the series,” he said.
“Go back to the Eureka and he went straight into that without having raced for six weeks and won easily.
“He’ll be right at his top come Hunter Cup night, he’ll have to be for a race like that.
“It’s such a great race. One of a few you grow up desperately wanting to win. It’s exciting to be heading down it again.
“I’m really looking forward to this one to see where we stack up with Leap To Fame. I’m sure we’ve closed the gap from six month or so ago. You want to race the best whenever you get the chance.”
Beyond the Hunter Cup, Don Hugo will return home to prepare for the Miracle Mile.
McCarthy is excited about adding classy Victorian three-year-old Hesitate to his stable.
“Gee, he’s got some serious speed, hasn’t he. You’ve got to love that speed when they’ve got it,” he said.
“He only arrived here last Wednesday, but is quite forward. If he pleases me in work, I’ll trial him Wednesday week at Menangle then look for a race.”
Hesitate now has two connections to King Of Swing, being trained by McCarthy and owned by Mick Harvey, who had a share in King Of Swing.
“The NSW Derby is obviously the first target,” McCarthy said.
