Latest news with #LukeMcCarthy
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Pacing guns Leap To Fame, Don Hugo clash in second rounds of 2025 Inter Dominion heats
The Inter Dominion pacing final has come a week early. At least that's how it looks with an earlier than expected clash of pacing big guns Leap To Fame and Don Hugo in the second round of Ladbrokes Inter Dominion heats at Albion Park on Saturday night. Most fans, and connections of both horses, had hoped and expected they wouldn't clash until the $1 million Grand Final a week later. But the random nature of the field selection on night two will see not only Leap To Fame and Don Hugo clash, but also eight-time Group 1 winner Catch A Wave and emerging Kiwi star Pinseeker are also in the same heat. This will be the fourth time Leap To Fame and Don Hugo, who both easily won their opening heats at Albion Park last Saturday night, have met with the former holding a 2-1 advantage. The barrier draw is the big talking point this time and gives Don Hugo a huge to square the ledger. Don Hugo has drawn gate one and looks a certain leader, while Leap To Fame has yet again drawn the worst possible barrier for him, gate eight (inside the back row). Leap To Fame is an easing $1.60 favourite with Don Hugo at $2.50. Don Hugo's trainer-driver Luke McCarthy conceded he had a lot in his favour this time. ðŸ�† ID25 Round 1 - Pacers Heat 2 ðŸ�† The defending Inter Dominion champ stalks the lead, peels at the turn and scores well! A class performance & drive from Luke McCarthy! ðŸ'� @ladbrokescomau @CobbittyEquine @HRNSW_Harness @TheCreekAlbion #QLDisRacing — RaceQ (@RaceQLD) July 5, 2025 'If we can't beat him this week, the way the barriers have landed, I don't see how we can in the final. The draw is a huge help,' he said. McCarthy doesn't subscribe to the widely-held theory Leap To Fame's trainer-driver Grant Dixon will follow him through at the start and stalk him. 'No, I think Grant's plan will be to get straight off again,' he said. 'There will be plenty of speed at the start and I'm not sure Leap To Fame would have the speed to be able to hold my back, so I can't see him taking the risk of being buried three back on the inside. 'Either way, the draw gives us our chance.' McCarthy was thrilled with Don Hugo's soft opening round heat win. 'I deliberately took him in fresh knowing how he thrives on the hard racing. He'll take plenty out of that run and be better again for the final. I'm really happy were he's at. 'But Leap To Fame was awesome winning his heat and I know the enormity of the challenge ahead, this week and in the final.' ðŸ�† ID25 Round 1 - Pacers Heat 3 ðŸ�† Just a little flex from the champion LEAP TO FAME in the third heat! Gee, Larry just made that look easy tonight ðŸ'¥ 😳 @TheCreekAlbion @ladbrokescomau #QLDisRacing — RaceQ (@RaceQLD) July 5, 2025 Leap To Fame firmed from $1.30 to $1.25 to win the final after night one, while Don Hugo eased from $3.50 to $3.80. McCarthy was taken by the performance of NSW pacer Captains Knock when second to Don Hugo on night one. 'He's a really nice horse when he's right and it looks like Brad (Hewitt) has him firing again at the right time. He was very brave after doing the work against Hugo,' he said. Captains Knock escapes the stars in round two and is $2.20 against Speak The Truth and Rakero Rebel at $3.80. The other opening night heat winner, Shannon Price's talented local Sure Thing Captain (gate four), is $1.40 to repeat the dose in round two from gate four. His main danger will be classy veteran Max Delight (gate 12).
Daily Telegraph
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
McCarthy's quest for Queensland riches begins
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Champion NSW trainer Luke McCarthy launches a huge month chasing the Queensland winter riches at Albion Park tomorrow (Saturday) night. While defending Inter Dominion champion Don Hugo will be his star act, McCarthy's team of raiders oozes star power with a range of feature race targets. We won't see Don Hugo until the opening round of Inter Dominion heats on July 5, but McCarthy has five runners tomorrow night, headed by Australia's best mare Eye Keep Smiling, exciting three-year-old Hesitate and Inter Dominion trotting hopeful Constantinople. • 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! Additionally, McCarthy, who spent much of his formative years in Queensland, is also caretaker trainer and driver for Mick Stanley's Queensland Oaks hopeful, Soho Americano, who steps out tomorrow night. 'I love getting back up to Queensland, especially this time of year,' McCarthy said. 'This Carnival has grown and grown and now adding the Inter Dominion has taken it to another level. I've got a really good team of horses at the right time to give it a real crack this year.' Don Hugo capped his Inter Dominion preparation when he made it two-from-two this campaign and thrashed his rivals at Menangle last Saturday night. 'He's ready now. I want him fresh going into the series, so I'll give him three weeks between runs going into the first round of heats,' McCarthy said. 'I couldn't be happier with my horse and if anyone can beat Leap To Fame, I think it's my guy.' Eye Keep Smiling is a hot favourite to post her eighth successive win and her 25th win from 36 starts in the Garrards Horse & Hound Mares' Open Pace tomorrow night. Her main target is a successful title defence in the $150,000 Group 1 Golden Girl at Albion Park on July 19. McCarthy also has former Group 1-winning mare Coastal Babe aiming for the Golden Girl. If Hesitate beats older rivals in the eighth race at Albion Park on tomorrow night, it will open the door for a tilt at the $350,000 Group 1 Rising Sun on July 5 as well as the $150,000 Group 1 Queensland Derby on July 19. 'I was chasing my tail with him last campaign, but he's come back really well after a break and I'm sure he'll be a factor in those big races. He's got so much speed,' McCarthy said. 'Mac Bon is another I'll have up here for the Redcliffe and Queensland Derbys. 'Constantinople won the consolation (of the Inter Dominion trotting series) in Brisbane two years ago and is back in form at the right time, while a horse like Beach Ball, who runs this week, will be competitive through the heats (Inter Dominion pacing) as well.' * Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp Originally published as NSW trainer Luke McCarthy brings an elite team to Albion Park in pursuit of Queensland glory
News.com.au
19-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
NSW trainer Luke McCarthy brings an elite team to Albion Park in pursuit of Queensland glory
Champion NSW trainer Luke McCarthy launches a huge month chasing the Queensland winter riches at Albion Park tomorrow (Saturday) night. While defending Inter Dominion champion Don Hugo will be his star act, McCarthy's team of raiders oozes star power with a range of feature race targets. We won't see Don Hugo until the opening round of Inter Dominion heats on July 5, but McCarthy has five runners tomorrow night, headed by Australia's best mare Eye Keep Smiling, exciting three-year-old Hesitate and Inter Dominion trotting hopeful Constantinople. • 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! Additionally, McCarthy, who spent much of his formative years in Queensland, is also caretaker trainer and driver for Mick Stanley's Queensland Oaks hopeful, Soho Americano, who steps out tomorrow night. 'I love getting back up to Queensland, especially this time of year,' McCarthy said. 'This Carnival has grown and grown and now adding the Inter Dominion has taken it to another level. I've got a really good team of horses at the right time to give it a real crack this year.' Don Hugo capped his Inter Dominion preparation when he made it two-from-two this campaign and thrashed his rivals at Menangle last Saturday night. 'He's ready now. I want him fresh going into the series, so I'll give him three weeks between runs going into the first round of heats,' McCarthy said. 'I couldn't be happier with my horse and if anyone can beat Leap To Fame, I think it's my guy.' 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 … â€' RaceQ (@RaceQLD) July 20, 2024 Eye Keep Smiling is a hot favourite to post her eighth successive win and her 25th win from 36 starts in the Garrards Horse & Hound Mares' Open Pace tomorrow night. Her main target is a successful title defence in the $150,000 Group 1 Golden Girl at Albion Park on July 19. McCarthy also has former Group 1-winning mare Coastal Babe aiming for the Golden Girl. If Hesitate beats older rivals in the eighth race at Albion Park on tomorrow night, it will open the door for a tilt at the $350,000 Group 1 Rising Sun on July 5 as well as the $150,000 Group 1 Queensland Derby on July 19. 'I was chasing my tail with him last campaign, but he's come back really well after a break and I'm sure he'll be a factor in those big races. He's got so much speed,' McCarthy said. 'Mac Bon is another I'll have up here for the Redcliffe and Queensland Derbys. 'Constantinople won the consolation (of the Inter Dominion trotting series) in Brisbane two years ago and is back in form at the right time, while a horse like Beach Ball, who runs this week, will be competitive through the heats (Inter Dominion pacing) as well.'
News.com.au
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Defending Inter Dominion winner Don Hugo takes first step towards his title defence with a return at Menangle
Luke McCarthy is a realist. The champion NSW horseman will take his stable star Don Hugo to Brisbane to defend his Inter Dominion crown and knows the bar has been raised. That's because, unlike in last year's Menangle Inter Dominion final, Don Hugo will have one of the greatest pacers this part of the world has seen in Leap To Fame to contend with. There's another factor niggling away at McCarthy, too. 'This year's (Inter Dominion) final is over 3157m and that plays to Leap To Fame's greatest strength, his stamina,' McCarthy said. 'Over the sprint distances, Don Hugo can be too sharp for him, but the longer the races, the harder he is to beat. 'We're talking about an out-and-out champion, one of the best pacers I've seen in Leap To Fame. 'We've beaten him before and I've got huge faith in my horse, but I'm also aware of the enormity of the challenge ahead in a series run in his backyard and a final over that sort of distance.' Don Hugo, who returns from a spell in a 2300m race at Menangle tonight, has clashed with Leap To Fame just three times and trails him 1-2. McCarthy's star ran fifth in February's Hunter Cup when Leap To Fame was second, then turned the tables when he led throughout to win the Miracle Mile at Menangle on March 8 where Leap To Fame was a brave second. Don Hugo WINS the G1 Inter Dominion Pacers Final & smashes the track record in the process! ðŸ�† â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 14, 2024 • Ka Ying Rising locked in for The Everest as slot details confirmed Leap To Fame then produced arguably his greatest performance yet when he sat outside and crushed Don Hugo at their latest meeting in the $NZ1 million Race by Betcha in Cambridge, NZ on April 4. But McCarthy said Don Hugo performed below his best and was found to have a virus after the race. 'Leap To Fame was just too good, but Don Hugo is much better than he showed that night,' he said. 'He's thrived during the break, had a trial and private workout at Menangle, and he's raring to go this week. 'I plan to back him up the following week and then take him straight into the opening round of (Inter Dominion) heats on July 5.' Leap To Fame, who resumed from a break with a narrow but impressive Albion Park win last Saturday, will change tact when he backs up tomorrow (Saturday) night. Trainer-driver Grant Dixon has opted to run him from a 30m handicap over 2138m. It will be just his second standing-start race in 65 starts. He won the other at Albion Park back on June 8, last year.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Homestead Capital Hires Luke McCarthy to Lead Loan Origination; Expands U.S. Agricultural Lending Operations
SAN FRANCISCO, May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Homestead Capital USA LLC (Homestead), a diversified investment manager that acquires and finances high-quality farmland across the United States, today announced that Oregon-based industry veteran Luke McCarthy has joined the firm's credit team as a director. In this new role, McCarthy will lead loan origination efforts to accelerate the firm's expansion of its agricultural lending operations. San Francisco-based Homestead manages more than $1.6 billion in equity and credit assets for pension plans, endowments, foundations, insurance companies, and family offices. McCarthy has more than 15 years of national and sector-wide experience in agricultural financing, including credit analysis, collateral valuation, due diligence and loan syndications. At Homestead, he will focus on expanding the firm's lending operations and building relationships with farmers, ranchers, agricultural executives and fund managers across the United States. Before Homestead, McCarthy was executive director for PGIM Real Estate where he originated and managed more than $1.3 billion in agribusiness and farm real estate loans. Previously in his career, he was vice president of loan syndications for Rabo AgriFinance, where he managed the firm's sell-side syndicated loan portfolio in the central and western United States and oversaw buyside deal flow and execution. "As sophisticated investors continue to explore alternative asset classes and as we continue to expand our private credit business, Luke's expertise in agricultural finance and his first-hand farming knowledge will be of great benefit to Homestead clients," said Justin Burns, managing director. McCarthy was raised on his family's pear, apple and cherry farm in Oregon and remains active in its operation. He holds a bachelor's degree in applied economics and management in finance from Cornell University, a master's degree in agricultural economics from Purdue University, and a master's degree in business administration from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. With 22 employees and operations in the Pacific, Pacific Northwest, Mountain West, Delta and Midwest regions of the United States, Homestead primarily works with small and mid-sized farmers to provide capital solutions and improve profitability. Homestead is majority employee-owned and led by Daniel Little and Gabe Santos, Co-Founders and Co-CEOs. About Homestead Capital Established in 2012, Homestead acquires and manages high-quality farmland properties and is a lender to agricultural operators. Homestead focuses on acquisitions with opportunities for value enhancement through capital improvements, tailored farm management, economies of scale, crop selection and rotation, and customized farm operating strategies. For more information, visit Media contacts Newton Park PR, LLC Margaret Kirch CohenE: margaret@ +1 847-507-2229 Kathy Panagopoulos E: kathy@ T: + 1 773-710-7433 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Homestead Capital
