THE connections of Globe Derby Stakes-winning three-year-old pacer Hugo Play have found it hard to remove the smile from their faces following the gelding’s brilliant win in Launceston last Sunday night.
Hugo lay was coming off an effortless win in the Globe Derby in which he led most of the way and was untroubled to land the money.
But on Sunday night Hugo Play had to work three-w-de for the first lap before finding the “death” outside of the leader Tony Macarony.
When Hugo Play’s driver-trainer Kate McLeod called on her charge to tackle the leader Tony Macarony kicked and looked to have the favourite’s measure.
But like all real good horses, Hugo Play somehow managed to muster the courage to wear down the leader close to home and score by a narrow margin.
Hugo Play will now be set for the Breeders Crown series in Victoria. He will contest a heat of the series in Hobart in three weeks and if successful he will travel to Melbourne for a Breeders Crown semi-final.
Hugo Play’s win was the first leg of a winning double for McLeod who also scored aboard the much improved Promising Demon for novice trainer Cleone Hill.
Listen to what trainer-driver Kate McLeod had to say about Hugo Play’s win and what she thinks of Promising Demon – click here.