Don Hugo winning the 2025 Blacks A Fake
FORMER Queenslander Luke McCarthy capped the biggest month of his stellar career when again he upstaged local champion Leap To Fame in last night’s $250,000 Group 1 Ladbrokes Blacks A Fake at Albion Park.
McCarthy lifted reigning Miracle Mile winner Don Hugo to a nose win over an incredibly brave Leap To Fame in a track record-equalling 1min52.8sec mile rate for 2680m.
It’s the fourth time this year McCarthy has beaten Leap To Fame, twice with Don Hugo and twice with his other stable star Kingman.
Last night’s win came after a tactically brilliant move from McCarthy to lead and take a sit on rising local star The Janitor, which left Leap To Fame to again do all the work outside the leader.
“I hoped The Janitor would be first to get to me and knew if I sat on him, I’d get the last shot at them,” McCarthy said. “It took the whole straight to get there, but I thought I did right on the line. The other two horses went great as well.”
As brave as Leap To Fame was, it was his fourth defeat in his past six starts and the heir of invincibility he once had is seriously being challenged.
McCarthy’s Blacks A Fake win followed success in the iconic NZ Cup on November 11 and also the Victoria Cup on October 18, both with Kingman.
Don Hugo’s owner Tony Licastro can’t believe the ride the five-year-old has given him in the past 16 months.
“From winning the TAB Eureka to the (Sydney) Inter Dominion, a Miracle Mile and now a Blacks A Fake. I’ve waited 25 years in the game for a horse like this,” he said.
While Kingman will chase a $1 million bonus for the Victorian “Cups series” in January and February, Don Hugo is set for a quieter time.
“I’ll let the dust settle and chat with Tony, but defending his Miracle Mile crown is main priority now,” McCarthy said.
Adding to the star power of the night, champion Victorian trotting mare posted her 10th Group 1 win from just 21 starts in the $150,000 Great Square.
It vindicated a somewhat reluctant decision from co-trainers Marg and Paddy Lee to make a 24-hour road trip with the four-year-old from their Ecklin South stables near Terang to Brisbane.
Keayang Zahara cruised to a 2.2m win in a 1min56.4sec mile rate, just 0.9sec outside the 2138m track record. Her last 800m was a mesmerizing 54.6sec.
“We’re glad we did it now,” driver Jason Lee said. “She actually handled the trip really well and it’s great to get some experience up here given we hope to be back for the (Albion Park) Inter Dominion in July.”
Keayang Zahara heads home again by road to freshen-up for more Group 1 glory. His next major target is the $100,000 Group 1 Maori Mile at Bendigo on January 10.
It’s the first leg of a new six-race series which has a potential $500,000 bonus attached for any trotter who can win four legs, but they must include the $250,000 Great Southern Star at Melton on February 14.
Last night’s romp fuelled expectations Keayang Zahara could become one of the best trotters Australia has produced and compete strongly on an international stage in coming years.
PHOTO: Dan Costello
