Breeders Challenge finals set the Eureka scene

Loucasso (Sweet Lou – Our Little Artist) heads a group of TAB Eureka hopefuls into Saturday’s NSW Breeders Challenge finals at Menangle, with four of the six finals carrying interest for the $1.5 million race on November 21.

Only three of the 10 Eureka slots have been filled. Loucasso is the runner for slot holder Rampant Standardbreds and Double Lou for slot holder The Don, while Rob Watson confirmed today that his Soho Standardbreds slot will go to Soho Charmer. That leaves seven slot holders still to settle on a runner.

Loucasso, TAB’s $2.40 Eureka favourite, is unbeaten in four starts this season and comes off a record-breaking semi-final win on Saturday night. Driven by trainer Seaton Grima, the colt worked to the lead from barrier eight and beat Nocturnal by 2.1 metres at $1.06, with Cowboy Culture a further 10.9 metres back in third.

His 1:47.6 mile rate took 1.2 seconds off Sao Paulo Simba’s Australasian three-year-old record.

“The scary thing is he could’ve gone 26 in that last quarter,” Grima said.

Saturday’s $150,000 Group 1 final over 1609m presents a tougher test. Loucasso has again drawn barrier eight, and his key rivals have all drawn inside him: Yottie in three, Nocturnal in four and Alert Bay in seven.

Yottie, a gelding by Downbytheseaside, won the first semi-final for trainer-driver Bernie Hewitt at $1.35, holding off Frizza by a half head in a 1:49.6 mile rate. Alert Bay was 1.7 metres away third.

Nocturnal ran second to Loucasso for trainer-driver Blake Fitzpatrick.

Yottie is $12 in TAB’s Eureka market, while Nocturnal and Alert Bay are not yet listed. All three remain possible Eureka runners, and beating Loucasso would put any of them firmly in the frame with slot holders still looking for a horse.

The three-year-old fillies’ final centres on Ark Sea. The Sam Hewitt-trained daughter of Stay Hungry led throughout from barrier five in her semi-final, beating One More Reason by 4.5 metres at $1.80 in a 1:49.7 mile rate, an Australasian record for three-year-old fillies.

“That run will have her right at her peak,” Sam Hewitt said.

Ark Sea has drawn barrier four, one inside Queensland filly Stripes, who won the other semi-final in 1:51.3 for trainer Chantal Turpin. Ark Sea is expected to start a dominant favourite on Saturday.

She is $16 in TAB’s Eureka market and remains in the frame as a possible Eureka runner.

Double Lou has drawn barrier one in the Group 3 four-year-old entires and geldings final, his best draw at a race start since at least April. The Bailey McDonough-trained gelding began from gate eight in Saturday’s semi-final and now has a draw that suits a horse with gate speed.

Starting $1.80 favourite in that semi-final, Double Lou finished second, 1.5 metres behind Wicked Wizard in a 1:50.5 mile rate, with Sinaloa a head away third. Wicked Wizard has drawn three in the final, with Sinaloa alongside in four. Double Lou is $7 in TAB’s Eureka market, Sinaloa $15 and Seasider, who draws eight, $12.

The four-year-old mares’ final also has two Eureka market runners, Gunna Reload from barrier two and Sugar Pie Honey from nine, both $41. TAB refunds Eureka futures bets if the runner does not gain a slot.

Loucasso was bred by Mathew Day and is raced by a group including ABR Bloodstock and Summit Bloodstock. He has won 11 of his 13 starts for $445,588. Double Lou, also by Sweet Lou, was bred and is owned by Johnny Star Racing and has won 12 of his 23 starts for $242,400.

 

Disclosure: Harnesslink is a 2026 TAB Eureka slot holder.

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