Harness
Australian Harness Racing Preview – Saturday, 14th June 2025
Don Hugo will take the next step towards defending his Inter Dominion crown when he tackles a strong field at Menangle on Saturday night.
Luke McCarthy's stallion is a hot favourite for the Club Menangle Golden Mile but the race has brought together a handy line-up including a few rivals that are also targeting a trip to Brisbane for next month's Inter Dominion.
Don Hugo though will rate as the one to beat after he was too classy when resuming last week, working to the front from the widest barrier before going on to score by 9m.
The Menangle specialist has yet to miss a place in 10 tries over the shorter distance at the circuit, winning six including the Miracle Mile.
He should only be improved with that hitout under the belt so will be hard to stop.
Captains Knock hasn't raced since the autumn carnival but he has a strong fresh record with four wins and two placings from six attempts.
He has been readied with a trial win and is accustomed to wider barriers so will appreciate the lower draw.
Captain Ravishing is somewhat of an enigma and disappointed when dropping out last time but gets the ace draw so if on his game he is a threat.
Max Delight is reliable and while a beaten favourite last time his effort for third continued a string of wins and placings so he can be in the finish again.
The outside draw won't make the task any easier for Nyack but he is racing well while well-performed Kiwi Beach Ball is a big watch in his first outing for McCarthy.
The Menangle program also features the APG Sydney Sales Graduate Series Finals where lightly-raced Victorian Dynamitedan and the horse that beat him in the heats, Brian Potelli's A Buck Ten, are set for a good clash in the two-year-old colts and geldings decider.
Jarrod Alchin's Bettors Creation is a hot early favourite in the fillies' race after a strong win on debut in the heats.
A spot in next month's Rising Sun will be up for grabs when a talented field tackles the Queensland Sun at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Toughest to beat could be Charge Ahead having scored his second win in three starts since a let-up when he worked forward from a wide barrier to find the front before going on to score by 5m at the circuit last time.
He showed his class with a second in the Chariots of Fire earlier in the year and draws for a nice trail - he looks dangerous from there.
Progressive pacer Birkirkara took a big step up when placed in open company last week. He draws on the second line but his strike rate is impressive and he is three from three at the circuit and distance
It's not an easy task for Path To Greatness as a three-year-old against more mature rivals but he is talented and in form, winning his last two starts. He led from the same barrier to score at Melton two back so could be hard to catch.
Last season's NSW Breeders Challenge winner Air Express is hard to knock having won his last three at Albion Park. He has had seven weeks off but has been kept up to the mark with four trials so he'll be fit.
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