RAGING hot TAB Eureka favourite Loucasso will face by far his biggest test yet at Menangle on Saturday night.
The boom three-year-old, who has been stunning winning all four starts this campaign, will have to overcome a wide draw (gate 10) and some serious opposition in the $150,000 Group 1 NSW Breeders Challenge final (1609m).
Loucasso will move down to gate eight if the emergencies Ethans Revenge (gate two) and Lexy (three) don’t gain starts.
His key rivals Yottie (gate five into three), Nocturnal (six into four) and Alert Bay (nine into seven) have all drawn inside Loucasso.
Latest markets have Loucasso, who boasts 11 wins from 13 starts, $2.40 favourite for the $1.5 million TAB Eureka at Menangle on November 21.
He was the first pacer locked in for a slot by Rampant Standardbreds.
That’s despite no three-year-old having won the TAB Eureka in its three-year history. Bay Of Biscay (second in 2024) and Fox Dan (second last year) have come closest.
Loucasso obliterated the Australasian three-year-old with his 1min47.6sec mile win in a Breeders Challenge semi-final last Saturday night. It took a thumping 1.2sec off Sao Paulo Simba’s record.
The race is just as crucial for Yottie, Alert Bay and Nocturnal, who are all still considered possibles to land TAB Eureka slots.
If one of them can upstage Loucasso this week, it would surely put them right in the frame for the remaining slot owners still looking for a runner.
There will also be a watch on buzz three-year-old filly Ark Sea in her NSW Breeders Challenge final on the same night.
Insiders say she remains in the frame with at least one slot owner as a possible TAB Eureka runner.
So far, just three of the 10 TAB Eureka slots have been confirmed.
Loucasso was the first for Rampant Standardbreds, then followed Double Lou for Tony Licastro’s “The Don” slot.
Earlier today, leading owner-breeder Rob Watson confirmed he would use his Soho Standardbreds slot on one of his own pacers, last-start Victoria Derby placegetter Soho Charmer.
Watson “won” the TAB Eureka last year when he used his slot to team with the Emma Stewart-trained Bay Of Biscay.
PHOTO: Club Menangle/HRNSW