Eureka Watch - Can Hesitate Keep McCarthy’s Streak Alive?

BRILLIANT young pacer Hesitate could be the horse to maintain Luke McCarthy’s unbeaten record in the $2.1mil TAB Eureka.

McCarthy snared a pick-up drive on Emma Stewart’s star mare Encipher for an upset win in the inaugural 2023 TAB Eureka and then trained and drove Don Hugo to win last year on his way to subsequent wins in the Inter Dominion and Miracle Mile.

It is hard not to get excited about Hesitate.

For sheer speed the three-year-old is up with just about any pacer in the land.

Hesitate showed it when he sat parked against older rivals and ripped home in two sub-27sec quarters (26.5 and 26.9) for a blazing 53.4sec last half to win at Albion Park last Saturday night.

McCarthy took over training and driving Hesitate when leviathan NSW owner Mick Harvey bought a controlling share in the pacer late last year.

“I felt like we were always chasing our tail in that first campaign with him, but he’s a different horse this time in,” McCarthy said. “I’ve got a really big opinion of him.”

Hesitate won first-up at Menangle on June 14 and then added the sparkling win at Albion Park last Saturday night.

The win earned him an invite to the $350,000 Group 1 Rising Sun at Albion Park on July 12. We’ll know a lot more about him when he steps into the big league for that race.

The Rising Sun shapes as by far the most defining TAB Eureka lead-up race so far this season. Don Hugo ran a huge second in it last year before winning the TAB Eureka.

Hesitate will be one of a few key three-year-olds heading towards the TAB Eureka to tackle the Rising Sun. Grant Dixon’s star pair, Fate Awaits and Path To Greatness, are others.

They are all chasing some history as the first three-year-old to win the TAB Eureka.

Bay Of Biscay came closest when he flashed home late for second to Don Hugo last year.

Before that, Bay Of Biscay ran a monstrous second in the Queensland Derby, a race which will also be a key target for Hesitate, Fate Awaits and Path To Greatness.

Hesitate will have this week off, while Fate Awaits and Path To Greatness will tackle the Redcliffe Derby.