Defending Inter Dominion winner Don Hugo takes first step towards his title defence with a return at Menangle

Champion NSW horseman Luke McCarthy is preparing his star pacer Don Hugo for a challenging Inter Dominion defence in Brisbane, where he will renew his battle with Leap To Fame.

Don Hugo begins his quest for back-to-back Inter Dominion wins when he returns at Menangle on Saturday. Picture: Club Menangle/Pacepix

Luke McCarthy is a realist.

The champion NSW horseman will take his stable star Don Hugo to Brisbane to defend his Inter Dominion crown and knows the bar has been raised.

That’s because, unlike in last year’s Menangle Inter Dominion final, Don Hugo will have one of the greatest pacers this part of the world has seen in Leap To Fame to contend with.

There’s another factor niggling away at McCarthy, too.

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“This year’s (Inter Dominion) final is over 3157m and that plays to Leap To Fame’s greatest strength, his stamina,” McCarthy said.

“Over the sprint distances, Don Hugo can be too sharp for him, but the longer the races, the harder he is to beat.

“We’re talking about an out-and-out champion, one of the best pacers I’ve seen in Leap To Fame.

“We’ve beaten him before and I’ve got huge faith in my horse, but I’m also aware of the enormity of the challenge ahead in a series run in his backyard and a final over that sort of distance.”

Don Hugo, who returns from a spell in a 2300m race at Menangle tonight, has clashed with Leap To Fame just three times and trails him 1-2.

McCarthy’s star ran fifth in February’s Hunter Cup when Leap To Fame was second, then turned the tables when he led throughout to win the Miracle Mile at Menangle on March 8 where Leap To Fame was a brave second.

Don Hugo WINS the G1 Inter Dominion Pacers Final & smashes the track record in the process! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/XbykQfqPCC

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Leap To Fame then produced arguably his greatest performance yet when he sat outside and crushed Don Hugo at their latest meeting in the $NZ1 million Race by Betcha in Cambridge, NZ on April 4.

But McCarthy said Don Hugo performed below his best and was found to have a virus after the race.

“Leap To Fame was just too good, but Don Hugo is much better than he showed that night,” he said.

“He’s thrived during the break, had a trial and private workout at Menangle, and he’s raring to go this week.

“I plan to back him up the following week and then take him straight into the opening round of (Inter Dominion) heats on July 5.”

Leap To Fame, who resumed from a break with a narrow but impressive Albion Park win last Saturday, will change tact when he backs up tomorrow (Saturday) night.

Trainer-driver Grant Dixon has opted to run him from a 30m handicap over 2138m.

It will be just his second standing-start race in 65 starts. He won the other at Albion Park back on June 8, last year.

· Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.

Originally published as Defending Inter Dominion winner Don Hugo takes first step towards his title defence with a return at Menangle