Boom Victorian filly Bettor Beach will chase all sorts of history next month.
Just by landing the Harnesslink slot in the $1.5 million TAB Eureka, Bettor Beach will become the first three-year-old filly to contest the world’s richest pacing race in its four-year history.
Beyond that, she will be trying to become the first three-year-old of any sex to win the TAB Eureka.
Bay Of Biscay (second in 2024) and Fox Dan (second last year) have come closest.
Passionate Ballarat breeders Bruce and Vicki Edward, still buzzing from Bettor Beach’s recent Group 1 Victoria Oaks win, are thrilled the filly has snared a TAB Eureka slot.
“It’s very exciting. We think she’s the right sort of filly for the race and the preferential barrier draw certainly makes it more attractive,” Bruce Edward said.
Under the conditions, Bettor Beach, as the only three-year-old filly in the race, will draw barrier one.
Harnesslink owner Mick Harvey said Bettor Beach “picked herself” for the slot with her stunning Victoria Oaks win.
“That was some sort of win,” he said. “She had to burn early and still ran in a pair of 26-second quarters to win easily.
“I've done all my assessments and I think she went as good, if not better, than any of the boys in the (Victoria) Derby that night.
“She’s shown she can handle pressure and will get barrier one. I’m thrilled to get her and I’m sure she’ll run a great race.”
The daughter of Bettors Delight has raced just 10 times for seven wins.
Depending on whether she runs again before the race, she could join stablemate Go Miki as the least experienced horse to contest the TAB Eureka.
Go Miki was having just his 11th start when fourth to Bay Of Biscay last year.
Bettor Beach is the first confirmed runner in this year’s TAB Eureka for the powerhouse Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin stable, who have been the dominant force in the race so far.
They trained Encipher to win the inaugural running in 2023, Bay Of Biscay ran second in 2024 and last year they had first (Bay Of Biscay) and second (Fox Dan).
Bettor Beach is the fourth confirmed runner for this year’s race, joining Loucasso (Rampant Standardbreds slot), Double Lou (Tony Licastro’s The Don slot) and Soho Charmer (Soho Standardbreds).
With a trio of three year-old’s already locked in and six slots still available, there could be even more than the record six three-year-olds who contested last year’s TAB Eureka.
Bettor Beach. Photo by Stuart McCormick