Stewart unleashes star-studded team in Eureka quest

CHAMPION Victorian trainer Emma Stewart is taking a team of young harness racing stars to Menangle in a quest to bolster her chances of winning the world’s richest pacing race for a third time.

Stewart, who won the TAB Eureka with Encipher in 2023 and Bay of Biscay last year, already has star three-year-old filly Bettor Beach with a confirmed slot in the $1.5 race on November 21.

Bettor Beach, a last-start winner of the Group 1 Victoria Oaks, is the first three-year-old filly to gain a slot in the Eureka.

Such is the depth of talent in Stewart and Clayton Tonkin’s stable, she has at least five other genuine contenders for a TAB Eureka slot.

Many of them have been nominated across a string of races at Menangle on Saturday night.

Last-start Group 2 South Australian Cup winner The Last Trip, the untapped Cigano, star mares The Art Of Success and Let Her Roll, the emerging I Am The Storm and classy three-year-old Most Exciting are all nominated.

“We’re taking a big team up, I’ll have six up there,” Stewart said.

So far, just four of the 10 TAB Eureka slots have been confirmed. They are: Loucasso (Rampant Standardbreds), Double Lou (Tony Licastro), Soho Charmer (Soho Standardbreds) and Bettor Beach (Harnesslink).

But it is understood that several of the remaining six slots are close to being confirmed.

Stewart and Tonkin’s close affinity with leviathan owner Danny Zavitsanos means his slot will definitely go to one of their horses, but it is uncertain which one.

Team Lee’s is also believed to be looking closely at a Stewart and Tonkin-trained runner for their Levarg group slot.

Mick Harvey still has his Go Racing slot to fill and has already shown his support for the Stewart and Tonkin barn by using his other slot, Harnesslink, to secure Bettor Beach.

Raging hot TAB Eureka favourite Loucasso looks set to add further excitement to Saturday night’s Menangle meeting.

In a surprise twist, trainer-driver Seaton Grima has nominated him again for a 2300m race.

Jimmy Rattray’s emerging Alert Bay, who charged home for a terrific second to Loucasso in last Saturday night’s $150,000 Group 1 NSW Breeders Challenge 3YO final, is also nominated to back-up Saturday.

Rattray has nominated him for the three-year-old race, which would see a clash with Stewart’s Most Exciting.

 

by Adam Hamilton for Harness Racing Australia