Plans for star Goulburn filly Ark Sea have not yet been set in stone by her trainer Sam Hewitt following her emphatic win in Saturday night’s $150,000 New South Wales Breeders Challenge Final for three-year-old fillies at Menangle.
Driven by inform Sydney reinsman Will Rixon, the daughter of Stay Hungry was given very little peace in front, but when asked for the supreme effort at the top of the lane she had plenty to give, going on to score by just over four metres and stopping the clock in 1:50.3 for the mile.
And there is no secret that on the back of that performance, Hewitt and Ark Sea’s connections are hoping that she gains a berth in the richest pacing race in the world, the TAB Eureka being run at Menangle on November 21 and have come out publicly to state that she is up for the taking, keen for slot holders to take the three-year-old into the race.
Both Loucasso and Double Lou have already secured their spots in the Eureka, and both were ultra-impressive when scoring in their respective Breeders Challenge finals last weekend.
“She went super at Menangle on Saturday night,” said Sam.
“Will drove her like she was the best horse in the race, and she performed accordingly.”
“That was a very satisfying result for me and everyone involved.”
“Realistically we would love to have a crack at the Eureka with her and there have been some whispers here and there of slot holders being interested, but nothing is official as yet.”
“We do have a second option up our sleeves though if none of them select her.”
“Our other thought is to head to Christchurch and take on some of the best kiwi fillies on their territory in the $200,000 New Zealand Pacing Oaks, which is scheduled to be run on the Friday night before the Eureka”.
Desperately unlucky in both the New South Wales and Queensland Oaks earlier this year, Hewitt is confident that whatever way the cards fall for his filly, she will be more than competitive.
“I think that if she gains a start in the Eureka, a race where she is guaranteed to draw well, she will acquit herself very well.”
“And the same would apply if we end up heading over to New Zealand, she certainly would not be there to just make up the numbers.”
