Title defense officially begins

REIGNING Inter Dominion champion Don Hugo will officially begin his title defence this weekend.

Sent for a spell following his fourth in the $1million The Race won by Leap To Fame in Cambridge April 4, Don Hugo will make his racing return at Club Menangle on Saturday night.

The Luke McCarthy-trained stallion is being readied for the Queensland-based Inter Dominion, which begins with heats at Albion Park on July 5.

Don Hugo won last season's Championship at Club Menangle, beating Minstrel and Max Delight in the Final.

Three months later the son of Art Major captured the famed Miracle Mile at the world class venue.

As for his pending assignment, Don Hugo has drawn the extreme outside - barrier 10 - over a mile.

"No one likes drawing out wide, but it is what it is," McCarthy said. "We knew he was always going to draw there given the conditions.

"He has won from there before, so I've got no doubt he can do it again.

"I trialled him at Menangle a couple of weeks ago, and his work has lifted since then, so he's ready to go.

"Whatever he does this week he will naturally improve on going forward."