Loucasso odds-on as TAB Eureka field confirmed

Loucasso (Sweet Lou – Our Little Artist) heads into Tuesday’s barrier draw for the $1.5 million TAB Eureka as TAB’s $1.75 favourite, after Kevin and Kay Seymour named Path To Greatness as the final runner in the 10-horse harness racing field.

The Seymours chose between two of their own pacers for the Solid Earth slot. Fire And Passion added weight to his case with a win on Saturday night, but the decision went to the more experienced Path To Greatness, a four-year-old trained by Grant Dixon who will make his second appearance in the race.

“Grant (Dixon) just feels Path To Greatness has come back really well,” Kevin Seymour said.

The Seymours now have two chances in the race. Fate Awaits, also trained by Dixon, was confirmed earlier this month as the runner for Wayne Loader’s Western Jewel slot and returns for his second Eureka.

Path To Greatness filled the last vacancy soon after Mick Harvey’s Go Racing slot went to Hesitate, third in last year’s Eureka and now prepared by Jason Grimson.

With all 10 slot runners confirmed, the field is:

The 2026 TAB Eureka field

TAB market movers

TAB’s pre-draw market shows plenty of movement. Loucasso opened at $2.20, was subsequently $1.85 and is now $1.75. The Last Trip, who opened at $5, has firmed from $3.50 into $3.20, while Cigano has come in from $7.50 to $6. Hesitate has been the biggest mover, shortening from an opening $35 to $11. Going the other way, Bettor Beach has eased from $8 to $15, and Path To Greatness has drifted from $11 to $51.

Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin have four of the 10 runners, equalling their number from last year. Will Rixon will drive The Last Trip, winner of the Group 2 South Australian Cup, for Cordina Racing. Jason Lee takes the reins on Cigano, who earned his place with wins at Melton on Victoria Cup night and at Menangle on November 7. Fox Dan, second in last year’s Eureka, strengthened his claims with a win at Melton the same night. Victoria Oaks winner Bettor Beach is the first three-year-old filly to gain a slot in the race.

Three-year-olds face historical challenge

Early predictions that three-year-olds would dominate this year’s field have not eventuated. Slot holders have selected seven four-year-olds, leaving Loucasso, Soho Charmer and Harnesslink’s Bettor Beach as the only three-year-olds. All three will be seeking to become the first horse of their age to win the Eureka, with Bettor Beach also set to become the first three-year-old filly to contest the race.

Three of last year’s three-year-old runners—Fox Dan, Hesitate and Path To Greatness—return as four-year-olds. Their experience adds another dimension to the contest, although they now lose the age-based draw advantage they enjoyed last year.

That age balance has significant implications for Tuesday’s preferential barrier draw. Among the 10 selected runners, the three-year-olds will occupy barriers one to three, with Bettor Beach receiving priority as the only filly. The seven four-year-olds will draw from barriers four to ten.

Four-year-olds have won all three editions of the Eureka. Encipher won the first running in 2023, Don Hugo followed in 2024 and Bay Of Biscay took last year’s edition for Stewart and Tonkin.

The race is run under a preferential barrier draw based on age and sex. Barriers will be drawn on Tuesday.

Wicked Confession, Frizza, The Niteshift and Jungle Dragon are the emergencies.

Disclosure: Harnesslink is a 2026 TAB Eureka slot holder, with Bettor Beach as its runner.

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From Harnesslink Media