Latest news with #LukeMcCarthy
News.com.au
22-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
John Singleton selects Hesitate to run in his slot in 2025 TAB Eureka at Menangle
John Singleton has pinned his hopes on exciting three-year-old Hesitate to give him back-to-back wins in the world's richest harness race. Hesitate, part-owned and formerly trained in Victoria by Damien Burns and Scott Petrie, was confirmed in Singleton's $2.1 million TAB Eureka slot today. It came after Hesitate ran a terrific second to star Kiwi pacer Rubira in last Saturday night's Group 1 Queensland Derby at Albion Park. Insiders say there was strong competition from a rival slot owner to secure Hesitate. Singleton teamed with champion trainer-driver Luke McCarthy to win last year's TAB Eureka with subsequent Inter Dominion and Miracle Mile winner Don Hugo. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'Our team think Hesitate is a horse on the up at the right time and that it's a year where the three-year-olds can win the TAB Eureka,' Singleton said. 'Bay Of Biscay got close last year and the belief is this three-year-old crop is even stronger than last year. 'It was exciting to win the race (TAB Eureka) in just its second year last year and we would love to go back and do it again.' The TAB Eureka is restricted to three and four-year-old Australian-bred pacers, but a three-year-old is yet to win it. RUBIRA TOO STRONG! ðŸ'° The @AllStarsRacing_ pacer takes out the @ladbrokescomau Queensland Derby! Driver Adam Sanderson makes it back-to-back Derby’s in the bike - the first ever to do so! ðŸ'¥ #QLDisRacing — RaceQ (@RaceQLD) July 19, 2025 The Emma Stewart-trained Bay Of Biscay came closest last year when he flew home late for second to Don Hugo. For McCarthy, Hesitate securing a slot gives him the chance to remain unbeaten in the TAB Eureka. He drove the Emma Stewart-trained Encipher to win in 2023 and won with Don Hugo last year. Hesitate has raced just 23 times for 11 wins and five seconds. He ran second to exciting Kiwi pacer Rubira in last Saturday night's Group 1 Queensland Derby at Albion Park. 'I'm thrilled this horse (Hesitate) is in. I never doubted he'd get a slot, he's so good, but it's great to have it confirmed so we can just focus on the best pathway to the race now rather than having to prove anything to anyone,' McCarthy said. 'He's a genuine winning chance in a race like the TAB Eureka. He's got so much speed and the preferential draws the three-year-olds get is a big factor. 'He'll have a few easy days after the Derby run and then we'll have a look for the most suitable lead-up races between now and the Eureka. He'll be an even better horse by then than he is now.' Hesitate's managing owner Mick Harvey added: 'We were already well advanced in talks with Singo's team and they obviously liked what they saw in the Derby. 'Luke's got a huge opinion of this horse and each run is a learning curve. He should be right where we want home by TAB Eureka night. 'As many have said, there's a bit of a question mark on the depth of the four-year-olds this year, while we know this is a really strong batch of three-year-olds and Hesitate is clearly one of the best of them. 'It's also super exciting to team with somebody like Singo, who has done so much for racing and been a huge supporter of the TAB Eureka from day one.'
The Australian
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Australian
Leap To Fame races to Inter Dominion glory
CHAMPION rival driver Luke McCarthy hailed Leap To Fame the greatest pacer he had seen after the Queensland champion romped his way to a second record-breaking Inter Dominion pacing final win at Albion Park on Saturday night. In front of a packed and one-eyed local crowd, Leap To Fame romped away for his 22nd successive win at his home track and his 56th win from just 69 lifetime starts. The $540,000 first prize also made him the all-time richest pacer in this part of the world with $4,630,884 – surpassing another great Queenslander, Blacks A Fake's $4,575,438 stakes tally. McCarthy, who finished fourth on defending Inter Dominion champion Don Hugo, said: 'He's amazing. He's not just the greatest stayer we've seen, he's the best horse full stop.' • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Leap To Fame has now contested seven Inter Dominion races, five heats and two finals, and won them all. He started the shortest priced favourite ($1.22) since the Inter Dominion began in 1936 and, after being crossed at the start, worked around to take the lead and was never in danger. 'This time it's more of a relief, the expectation was just so huge,' trainer-driver Grant Dixon said. 'We had a little scare during the week. He bucked and knocked his leg, which he's never done, but thankfully it wasn't anything serious.' Leap To Fame became just the eighth pacer to win multiple Inter Dominion finals and owners Kevin and Kay Seymour hinted strongly at chasing a third crown, which only three other pacers have done (Blacks A Fake, Im Themightyquinn and Our Sir Vancelot). 'The big studs have been coming hard at us to retire him, but we'll hold off for at least another year,' Kevin Seymour said. 'We've been in the game over 50 years and this is the horse we've dreamt of getting … Kay won't let me retire him, at least not for a while yet. 'It's important everyone understands the huge role Grant and Trista Dixon have played in making this horse.' In typical Seymour fashion, he said the winning trophy would go to Albion Park track photographer, Dan Costello, who is facing a huge battle with cancer. 'Dan's one of nature's gentlemen and is going through a really hard time. I'd love him to have the trophy and Kay and I will donate $100,000 of the prize money towards Dan's medical bills,' he said. Leap To Fame will have a break before aiming at another first, victory in NZ's most iconic race of any code, the NZ Cup at Addington in Christchurch in November. Earlier, star Victorian trotter Arcee Phoenix smashed through the $1 million prize money barrier with an emotion-charged $500,000 Inter Dominion trotting final win. Arcee Phoenix wins the Inter Dominion Trotting Grand Final Picture: Dan Costello Trainer-driver Chris Svanosio praised his late father-in-law, Dr Alistair McLean, for his guidance with Arcee Phoenix as a talented but raw youngster. 'Without him, this horse may well not have raced at all and now he's here as a six-year-old winning the Inter Dominion,' Svanosio said. 'There's lots of feelings at the moments, emotional, excitement and just relief after such a big build-up … we did it.' Arcee Phoenix became just the fifth Aussie-trained trotter to bank over a million with first prize taking him to $1,016,280. · Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp. PHOTOS: Dan Costello
Daily Telegraph
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Telegraph
Leap To Fame races to Inter Dominion glory
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. CHAMPION rival driver Luke McCarthy hailed Leap To Fame the greatest pacer he had seen after the Queensland champion romped his way to a second record-breaking Inter Dominion pacing final win at Albion Park on Saturday night. In front of a packed and one-eyed local crowd, Leap To Fame romped away for his 22nd successive win at his home track and his 56th win from just 69 lifetime starts. The $540,000 first prize also made him the all-time richest pacer in this part of the world with $4,630,884 – surpassing another great Queenslander, Blacks A Fake's $4,575,438 stakes tally. McCarthy, who finished fourth on defending Inter Dominion champion Don Hugo, said: 'He's amazing. He's not just the greatest stayer we've seen, he's the best horse full stop.' • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Leap To Fame has now contested seven Inter Dominion races, five heats and two finals, and won them all. He started the shortest priced favourite ($1.22) since the Inter Dominion began in 1936 and, after being crossed at the start, worked around to take the lead and was never in danger. 'This time it's more of a relief, the expectation was just so huge,' trainer-driver Grant Dixon said. 'We had a little scare during the week. He bucked and knocked his leg, which he's never done, but thankfully it wasn't anything serious.' Leap To Fame became just the eighth pacer to win multiple Inter Dominion finals and owners Kevin and Kay Seymour hinted strongly at chasing a third crown, which only three other pacers have done (Blacks A Fake, Im Themightyquinn and Our Sir Vancelot). 'The big studs have been coming hard at us to retire him, but we'll hold off for at least another year,' Kevin Seymour said. 'We've been in the game over 50 years and this is the horse we've dreamt of getting … Kay won't let me retire him, at least not for a while yet. 'It's important everyone understands the huge role Grant and Trista Dixon have played in making this horse.' In typical Seymour fashion, he said the winning trophy would go to Albion Park track photographer, Dan Costello, who is facing a huge battle with cancer. 'Dan's one of nature's gentlemen and is going through a really hard time. I'd love him to have the trophy and Kay and I will donate $100,000 of the prize money towards Dan's medical bills,' he said. Leap To Fame will have a break before aiming at another first, victory in NZ's most iconic race of any code, the NZ Cup at Addington in Christchurch in November. Earlier, star Victorian trotter Arcee Phoenix smashed through the $1 million prize money barrier with an emotion-charged $500,000 Inter Dominion trotting final win. Arcee Phoenix wins the Inter Dominion Trotting Grand Final Picture: Dan Costello Trainer-driver Chris Svanosio praised his late father-in-law, Dr Alistair McLean, for his guidance with Arcee Phoenix as a talented but raw youngster. 'Without him, this horse may well not have raced at all and now he's here as a six-year-old winning the Inter Dominion,' Svanosio said. 'There's lots of feelings at the moments, emotional, excitement and just relief after such a big build-up … we did it.' Arcee Phoenix became just the fifth Aussie-trained trotter to bank over a million with first prize taking him to $1,016,280. · Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp. PHOTOS: Dan Costello Originally published as Superstar pacer Leap To Fame streaks to effortless Inter Dominion victory
News.com.au
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Superstar pacer Leap To Fame streaks to effortless Inter Dominion victory
CHAMPION rival driver Luke McCarthy hailed Leap To Fame the greatest pacer he had seen after the Queensland champion romped his way to a second record-breaking Inter Dominion pacing final win at Albion Park on Saturday night. In front of a packed and one-eyed local crowd, Leap To Fame romped away for his 22nd successive win at his home track and his 56th win from just 69 lifetime starts. The $540,000 first prize also made him the all-time richest pacer in this part of the world with $4,630,884 – surpassing another great Queenslander, Blacks A Fake's $4,575,438 stakes tally. McCarthy, who finished fourth on defending Inter Dominion champion Don Hugo, said: 'He's amazing. He's not just the greatest stayer we've seen, he's the best horse full stop.' Leap To Fame has now contested seven Inter Dominion races, five heats and two finals, and won them all. He started the shortest priced favourite ($1.22) since the Inter Dominion began in 1936 and, after being crossed at the start, worked around to take the lead and was never in danger. 'This time it's more of a relief, the expectation was just so huge,' trainer-driver Grant Dixon said. And he leaps into harness racing immortality as @TheCreekAlbion erupts! ðŸ'¥ Leap To Fame takes control in the Inter Dominion Pacing Grand Final and wins with ease - he's now the all-time richest pacer in the Southern Hemisphere! ðŸ�†ðŸ'¥ @RaceQLD — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 19, 2025 'We had a little scare during the week. He bucked and knocked his leg, which he's never done, but thankfully it wasn't anything serious.' Leap To Fame became just the eighth pacer to win multiple Inter Dominion finals and owners Kevin and Kay Seymour hinted strongly at chasing a third crown, which only three other pacers have done (Blacks A Fake, Im Themightyquinn and Our Sir Vancelot). 'The big studs have been coming hard at us to retire him, but we'll hold off for at least another year,' Kevin Seymour said. 'We've been in the game over 50 years and this is the horse we've dreamt of getting … Kay won't let me retire him, at least not for a while yet. 'It's important everyone understands the huge role Grant and Trista Dixon have played in making this horse.' In typical Seymour fashion, he said the winning trophy would go to Albion Park track photographer, Dan Costello, who is facing a huge battle with cancer. 'Dan's one of nature's gentlemen and is going through a really hard time. I'd love him to have the trophy and Kay and I will donate $100,000 of the prize money towards Dan's medical bills,' he said. Leap To Fame will have a break before aiming at another first, victory in NZ's most iconic race of any code, the NZ Cup at Addington in Christchurch in November. Earlier, star Victorian trotter Arcee Phoenix smashed through the $1 million prize money barrier with an emotion-charged $500,000 Inter Dominion trotting final win. Trainer-driver Chris Svanosio praised his late father-in-law, Dr Alistair McLean, for his guidance with Arcee Phoenix as a talented but raw youngster. 'Without him, this horse may well not have raced at all and now he's here as a six-year-old winning the Inter Dominion,' Svanosio said. 'There's lots of feelings at the moments, emotional, excitement and just relief after such a big build-up … we did it.' Arcee Phoenix became just the fifth Aussie-trained trotter to bank over a million with first prize taking him to $1,016,280.
News.com.au
17-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
2025 Inter Dominion final: Leap To Fame is ‘different gravy', Don Hugo's trainer-driver Luke McCarthy concedes
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.' • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 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.' ðŸ�† ID25 Round 2 - Pacers Heat 5 ðŸ�† “HE’S PLAYING CHESS, THE OTHERS ARE PLAYING CHECKERS!â€� LEAP TO FAME blitzes them. Bring on Grand Final Night! ðŸ'� 🤩 #QLDisRacing — RaceQ (@RaceQLD) July 12, 2025 • 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! ðŸ�† Trainer-driver @lukeamccarthy puts together a ðŸ�' 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 … — RaceQ (@RaceQLD) July 20, 2024 • 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.'
