John Singleton locks in Don Hugo for world’s richest harness race The Tab Eureka

John Singleton has locked in his runner for the world’s richest harness race - The TAB Eureka - at Menangle in September.

John Singleton at the launch for The Tab Eureka.

The most flamboyant and high-profile of TAB Eureka slot holders, John Singleton, has changed tack this year.

Singleton and his team of advisers created a qualifying race, dubbed ‘The Singo’, to choose their slot runner in last year’s inaugural running of the $2.1 million TAB Eureka.

But this year they opted to hand pick a partner and landed on the luckless and very much in-form four-year-old Don Hugo.

It gives champion horseman Luke McCarthy a chance to successfully defend his crown, having won last year’s TAB Eureka with a late pick-up drive on Emma Stewart’s star mare Encipher.

McCarthy trains and drives Don Hugo, which convinced Singleton to lock in a deal with a fantastic and brave second in last Saturday night’s $350,000 Group 1 Rising Sun at Albion Park.

“We weighed-up all our options and Don Hugo is a horse our team has been following for a while now,” Singleton said.

“He was clearly the run of the race the other night and he looks like a horse still on the improve at the right time.”

McCarthy was delighted to lock Don Hugo into a spot in the world’s richest harness race.

“Gee he deserves it. I was so glad to get the call because there aren’t a lot of slots left and I really felt this guy should be in the field,” he said.

“I know a lot has been made of how big his race was in the Rising Sun, but he’s been going really well all campaign without any luck. He’s gone to another level since he ran that great second (to Extreme Sea) in the big race (Riverina Championship final) at Wagga (March 31).”

McCarthy said winning last year’s TAB Eureka aboard Encipher was one of the biggest thrills of his career.

Don Hugo in full flight at Menangle under the urgings of Luke McCarthy

“It was the first running of the race, the chance to drive that mare (Encipher) only came late and the atmosphere on track was amazing. It felt like such a big occasion,” he said.

“The build-up around the race was fantastic and to come out and upstage horses like Leap To Fame and Catch A Wave with the mare was pretty awesome.

“It’s great to be in it again and to team up, especially with someone like Singo, who adds so much to the PR of the race with his profile, is fantastic.”

McCarthy said Don Hugo’s next run would be in the 4YO Championship at Albion Park on Saturday week (July 27).

“Then he’ll head back home and we’ll give him another couple of runs at Menangle to have him spot on for the TAB Eureka,” he said.

Don Hugo’s owner Tony Licastro, who races him under his Kingstead Lodge banner, is thrilled to be in the TAB Eureka.

“He’s a horse who has flown under the radar and not got a lot of recognition, so it’s great to see someone really take notice of him,” he said. “It will be a hell of a ride from here, I can tell you.”

Don Hugo, a $9 chance in latest markets, is the fifth confirmed TAB Eureka runner, joining: Never Ending (Soho Standardbreds slot), Frankie Ferocious (TAB), Captains Knock (Cordina Racing) and The Lost Storm (Aaron Bain Racing & Summit Bloodstock).

The five remaining slot holders are: Team Zav (Danny and Jo Zavitsanos), Western Jewel (Wayne Loader), Kevin and Kay Seymour, Racing Queensland and Tasracing.

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

Originally published as John Singleton locks in Don Hugo for world’s richest harness race The Tab Eureka