Double Lou equals Double Trouble

Passionate owner Tony Licastro wants the TAB Eureka winning feeling again.

Licastro’s superstar pacer Don Hugo gave him “by far” his biggest thrill in the sport at the time when he won the 2024 TAB Eureka at Club Menangle.

When he realized he wouldn’t have a horse of his own for the $1.5 million race this year, Licastro jumped at the chance to bid for a slot in the November 21 feature.

“I was lucky enough to get a tick for a slot and have been looking at options since then,” he said.

Licastro today announced he had landed on exciting four-year-old pacer Double Lou as his slot runner.

“I looked seriously at a couple of options, but I’m really happy where I’ve landed,” he said.

“I want to relive that feeling of euphoria I had a couple of years ago with Don Hugo, and if it can’t be with one of my own horses, then I’ve got my slot to try and do it with.

“Double Lou is a star on the rise. Menangle is his home track, which I think is important, and he’s already won a feature race there.”

That was Double Lou’s biggest win in the NSW Breeders Challenge 3YO final on October 25, last year.

Under the guidance of young trainer-driver Bailey McDonough, Double Lou has since run a terrific fifth in the Chariots Of Fire behind wonder mare Captains Mistress and third in the Riverina Championship final.

The son of Sweet Lou hasn’t raced since a two-start Queensland winter raid when he won at Albion Park on June 27 and then endured a hard run when eighth to Captains Mistress in the Group 1 Rising Sun a week later.

“Bailey’s done a terrific job with him and been really patient,” Licastro said. “He’s had that one trial back at Menangle and looked good.”

McDonough said it was a dream come true to have a runner in the world's richest pacing race.

"It's so exciting and it's also fantastic to be able to plot our path from here rather than having to try and impress to get a spot in the race," he said.

Double Lou has won 12 of just 22 starts with another six placings and will trial Wednesday week at Menangle in preparation for a tilt at the NSW Breeders Challenge 4YO series.

"That's his first target and then it's three weeks from the Breeders Challenge final to the TAB Eureka," McDonough said.

"He's an exciting horse with some real X-factor and we've got a big couple of months ahead now."