INTER Dominion hero Don Hugo is on track for a radical tilt at the Group 1 Hunter Cup.
Trainer-driver Luke McCarthy said the five-year-old would go “first-up” into Victoria’s biggest and most gruelling race at Melton on February 1.
Don Hugo, who burst into the big league winning the $2.1mil TAB Eureka at Menangle on September 7, capped a remarkable finish to 2024 when he won an epic Menangle Inter Dominion final on December 14.
“He had a bit of time off after that and it was always going to be tight if we got a run into him or not,” McCarthy said.
“I don’t think he will race. I can give him a couple of strong private hit outs and then one trial should have him ready.
“He didn’t have long out, more of a freshen-up.”
McCarthy knows the bar will go up again if, as now looks likely, Leap To Fame returns to defend his Hunter Cup crown.
“As I said at the time, I know he won that Inter Dominion without Leap To Fame or Swayzee being there and they have been the benchmarks for the past year or so,” he said.
“But my horse just keeps stepping-up. Each time we’ve given him a bit of break and come back, he’s improved again.
“I’m just hoping he keeps doing that.
“On times and the way he did it in the Inter Dominion, I’m sure he’ll be competitive with them, but whether he can beat a horse like Leap To Fame will be the ultimate test.”
