Loucasso awesome in Eureka Dress Rehearsal

Outstanding colt Loucasso (Sweet Lou) showed why he’s likely to be a short priced favourite for the Eureka when he destroyed his opponents in the 24 Hour Fight Against Cancer Macarthur Pace at Menangle on Saturday night.

Run over the Eureka distance of 2300 metres the event was seen as a crucial test as to whether Loucasso could handle a longer distance as in his previous five wins at Sydney headquarters he had only raced over the mile. In fact his last distance win was in December 2025 when he won the Breeders Final at Melton over 2240 metres.

Punters considered that irrespective of the distance that Loucasso would score and he was his usual odds on favourite status.

Loucasso showed his customary brilliant speed but he was matched early by the Victorian I Am The Storm who couldn’t quite cross and was able to drop in for the trail as that pair had streeted the field in the early stages.

Seaton Grima then steadied Loucasso although he always a clear lead over I Am The Storm as the field settled in single file.

Loucasso ran his first quarter in 29.3 and the second and third quarters in 28.6 seconds as he started to put space between himself and the opposition. I Am The Storm stuck to his task gamely but with Loucasso running his last quarter in 26.6 seconds he was simply too fast and classy. At the finish Loucasso had over 11 metres to spare over I Am The Storm with Faze Of Glory a distant third.

The $1.5 million Group 1 Eureka will be staged at Menangle on 21 November and following that effortless performance trainer Seaton Grima has no plans to race Loucasso prior to the feature.

Whilst Loucasso will face sterner opposition in the Eureka his preparation this time in has been impeccable and he’s done everything expected of him this time in. He still looks the testing material in the coveted classic.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink