2025 Inter Dominion final: Leap To Fame is ‘different gravy’, Don Hugo’s trainer-driver Luke McCarthy concedes

Don Hugo’s champion driver Luke McCarthy concedes he will ‘almost certainly’ be handing over the Inter Dominion pacing crown to Grant Dixon’s Leap To Fame on Saturday night.

Don Hugo wins the 2024 Inter Dominion. Picture: Dan Costello

Champion driver Luke McCarthy concedes he will “almost certainly” be handing over the Inter Dominion pacing crown on Saturday night.

McCarthy’s stable star Don Hugo won the Inter Dominion final at Menangle last December when Leap To Fame was sidelined with illness, but the champ is back and looks close to a good thing in tonight’s $1 million final at Albion Park.

“He’s different gravy. He’s the best stayer I’ve seen, probably the best horse (pacer) I’ve seen full stop in this part of the world,” McCarthy said.

“You’ve got to be realistic and say, bar for something unexpected, Leap To Fame will be too good, especially over this (marathon) distance (3157m). It’s made for him and he’s going better than ever.

“We beat him for speed in the Miracle Mile, but this is twice as far and the further they go, the better it suits him.”

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Leap To Fame took a 3-1 advantage over Don Hugo when he won their qualifying heat last Saturday night.

Don Hugo endured a torrid run and tired to finish seventh.

“It was just an ugly race and he ended up having a gut-buster, but, to his credit, he’s come through it better than I could’ve expected,” McCarthy said.

“I’m so happy, I’m going there with a positive mindset, at least as far as knowing I have the second best horse in the race.

“I’ll drive him positively, too. I’ll go forward and put him right into the race from the wide draw (gate six).

“He’s a lovely horse my guy, really good, but he’s just run into the greatest of all time. There’s still some great money for running second.”

🏆 ID25 Round 2 - Pacers Heat 5 🏆

“HE’S PLAYING CHESS, THE OTHERS ARE PLAYING CHECKERS!”

LEAP TO FAME blitzes them. Bring on Grand Final Night! 👏 🤩 #QLDisRacingpic.twitter.com/C5eGD5Fyq8

— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) July 12, 2025

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Don Hugo is part of big night for the NSW-based McCarthy, who spent his teenage years growing up in Queensland.

“We’ve had a really good six weeks or so here and we’ve got the draws to bring it home strongly on final night,” he said.

Eye Keep Smiling, defending champion in the Group 1 Golden Girl, and the brilliant Hesitate, who has a pole draw in the Group 1 Queensland Derby are his other star players.

EYE KEEP SMILING takes the @GarrardsHnH The Golden Girl! 🏆

Trainer-driver @lukeamccarthy puts together a 🍑 drive, trailing the speed and peeling at the top of the lane to come away with the Group 1 feature!@SuccessStud@HRNSW_Harness@TheCreekAlbion@CobbittyEquine… pic.twitter.com/F9NzjyBLTA

— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) July 20, 2024

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Eye Keep Smiling (gate two) is going for her 10th successive win and, importantly, has drawn inside main danger, Steno (four).

“She’s faster out than you’ve seen lately and I think she’s a big chance to hold the lead,” McCarthy said.

“The draw is great with Hesitate. It gives me options. He’s fast enough to lead and the way went in front last time gives me confidence.

“Don’t forget my other Derby runner, too. Mac Bon’s not as brilliant as some of the big names, but he’s strong and the 2680m will really suit him.”

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

Originally published as 2025 Inter Dominion final: Leap To Fame is ‘different gravy’, Don Hugo’s trainer-driver Luke McCarthy concedes