Singo, back for more.
Australian entrepreneur and advertising guru John Singleton added another achievement to his extensive list of lifetime successes when Don Hugo won the world’s richest harness race, the 2024 TAB Eureka.
Singleton joined his good friend, former industry leader Graham Campbell and Jason and Emma Turnbull, combining with Don Hugo’s owner Tony Licastro to capture the feature which proved to be the start of a magical six months for the star Luke McCarthy trained and reined stallion.
With this year’s Eureka scheduled for September 6 at Tabcorp Park Menangle, the group headed by Singelton has hunted down another Eureka contender in the hope of snaring back-to-back victories in the $2.1 million event.
Due to age constraints in the criteria, Don Hugo is unable to contest this year’s edition, but the Group has stuck solid with McCarthy, picking up the promising three-year-old Hesitate to represent their slot.
Speaking on behalf of the syndicate, Jason Turnbull, an astute judge of horseflesh in his own right explained that his group had been eyeing off Hesitate for quite some time, and after his stellar Queensland campaign over the winter carnival were quick to swoop in and secure a deal with the colt’s managing owner Mick Harvey.
“It has been a very smooth deal really,” said Jason.
“Mick has been great to work with, and we have always had such a strong relationship with Luke which was further cemented after last year’s success, so in the end it was pretty smooth sailing.”
“Hesitate is a seriously good horse, he has shown that he has plenty of ability throughout his short career, and Luke has assured us that he is the right horse for a race like the Eureka.”
“It would certainly be a dream for us to go back-to-back that is for sure.” McCarthy has been able to drive both Eureka winners to date, his initial victory coming aboard Encipher for Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin and then of course with Don Hugo.
Luke has dominated feature racing at Sydney’s harness racing’s headquarters in recent times, and it would take a game person to back Luke out from securing a third Eureka.
This afternoon the Tamworth Club has again attracted strong acceptances, culminating in a nine-race program, while at Penrith the appearance of Senses, the baby sister of Leap To Fame and Swayzee in race eight will be watched with interest.
MICHAEL DUMESNY
Originally published in The Daily Telegraph
