Eureka spotlight falls on Breeders Challenge semi-finals
Eureka spotlight falls on Breeders Challenge semi-finals
Loucasso (Sweet Lou – Our Little Artist) heads a group of TAB Eureka contenders racing in the Nutrien Equine NSW Breeders Challenge semi-finals at Menangle on Saturday night, four weeks out from the $1.5 million race on November 21.
Two already have their places. Loucasso is the confirmed runner for the slot holder (Rampant Standardbreds), while Double Lou is the confirmed runner for the slot holder (The Don).
Loucasso has drawn barrier eight in the second semi-final for three-year-old colts and geldings (race 7, 9.43pm) and is $1.05 with TAB. The colt has won all three race starts this year at Menangle, the latest a first-round heat on September 29. His best winning mile rate in 2026 is 1:49.5. He has not raced since, but won a Menangle trial by 16.8 metres on October 14 for trainer-driver Seaton Grima.
Grima said having the slot settled on October 1 took some pressure off.
“Now we can plot a path towards the race,” Grima said.
Double Lou, also by Sweet Lou, has drawn barrier eight in the second semi-final for four-year-old entires and geldings (race 8, 10.19pm), where he is $1.45 with TAB. It will be his first race start since July 4, when he finished eighth at Albion Park, a week after winning there by 2.5 metres. He has had two Menangle trials since, winning on September 23 and finishing third, 20 metres behind Loucasso, on October 14.
His 2026 record reads five wins from 11 starts, with a best winning mile rate of 1:49.7 at Menangle in March, for trainer-driver Bailey McDonough.
“He’s got the four-year-old Breeders Challenge then it’s on to the Eureka,” McDonough said.
The semi-finals give three unslotted three-year-olds a stage, with eight slot holders yet to name a runner. Slot holders can name runners up to seven days before the race.
Two meet in the first colts and geldings semi-final (race 3, 7.32pm). Yottie, a gelding trained and driven by Bernie Hewitt, is $1.85 from barrier five. The colt Alert Bay, trained and driven by James Rattray, is $2.40 from barrier eight. Both are by Downbytheseaside, and both won second-round heats at Menangle on October 13.
Yottie won his heat by 10.8 metres from barrier nine, rating 1:50.5 at $1.18, after a 17.3-metre win at Bathurst on September 23. He is $12 in TAB’s Eureka futures market, where bets are refunded if a horse does not gain a slot. Alert Bay won his by 6.9 metres in 1:51.3 at $1.30.
Alert Bay has never finished worse than third in 15 career starts. Three of his seven second placings this year came behind Loucasso: beaten 2.8 metres on September 5, 3.9 metres on September 19 and 2.3 metres in the September 29 heat.
In the second fillies’ semi-final (race 5, 8.43pm), Ark Sea is $1.55 from barrier five for trainer Sam Hewitt and driver Will Rixon. She has won six of her eight starts this year, including her last two.
She won a heat at Bathurst by 18.0 metres on September 30 and won at Riverina Paceway by 3.9 metres on October 9. She is $16 in the same market.
Under the Eureka conditions, three-year-olds, fillies and mares receive a preferential barrier draw.
The Breeders Challenge finals are at Menangle on October 31.
Loucasso was bred by Mathew Day and is raced by a syndicate that includes ABR Bloodstock and Summit Bloodstock. He has won 10 of his 12 starts for $430,588. Double Lou, out of Louboutin NZ, was bred and is owned by Johnny Star Racing. He has won 12 of his 22 starts for $238,650.
Disclosure: Harnesslink is a 2026 TAB Eureka slot holder.
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