Rampant Moves Early To Secure Loucasso
CONNECTIONS of boom pacer Loucasso will be hoping history repeats in Australia’s richest pacing race, the $1.5 million TAB Eureka.
Last year Bay Of Biscay was the first confirmed slot runner and went on to win the TAB Eureka.
Loucasso this week became the first confirmed slot runner for this year’s race Menangle on November 21.
Rampant Standardbreds, a consortium of some of Australia’s major players, snapped up the raging hot favourite for their TAB Eureka slot after he made it two wins from as many starts at Menangle last Saturday night.
Seaton Grima, who only took over training and driving Loucasso in July, was thrilled to cement a start.
“This is so exciting,” he said. “That’s why we’re in the game, to try and be part of races like this.
“As young guy starting out, it’s a dream come true. I’ve run second to Captains Mistress in a Group 1 (Queen of the Pacific in February) and had Helluva run fifth in the Hunter Cup that night.
“But this is a whole new level. Not just to have a runner, but to have the favourite is something else."
Grima said he was ready for the pressure that comes with it.
“When you train and drive, you take all the pressure, but pressure makes diamonds … bring it on,” he said.
Rampant Standardbreds’ Josh Stapleton said it was a coup to land Loucasso given the group had expected the ill-fated Hollywood Strip to race in their slot.
“That was a gut-wrenching blow to lose Hollywood Strip to injury, but we had to act quickly and look for a Plan B,” he said.
“To be able to pivot and then still get a horse like Loucasso is amazing.
“We’ve seen how good he is and the signs are good with his couple of wins back from the long break.”
Stapleton, a close friend of prominent trainer Brad Hewitt, is one of four people in Rampant Standardbreds. The others are leviathan owner Mick Boots and another passionate owner-breeder, Glenn Holland of The Locomotive fame, and Milly Hewitt.
“Rampant started as just Glenn (Holland), but I got to know him when Brad trained The Locomotive and things built from there,” Stapleton said.
“Mick (Boots) has always had horses with Brad, including Hollywood Strip, and all four of us would spend time together at the races and then decided to go into Rampant together.
“It was at Cambridge (NZ) in April when we had Captains Knock over there racing that we were all together and decided Rampant should take a slot in the TAB Eureka.”
Stapleton said Grima had been a delight to deal with.
“For a young man (25), gee he’s impressive,” he said. “You can’t help but want him to have success and we’d love it to be in the Eureka with this horse.”
Loucasso is raced by Summit Bloodstock, Aaron Bain Racing and some of their clients.
Summit and ABR tasted success in a different way in the inaugural 2023 TAB Eureka when they used their slot to partner with Kadina owner-breeder Tyson Linke and his four-year-old mare Encipher to win the race.
Latest markets have Loucasso, who boasts nine wins from just 11 starts, a commanding $2.50 favourite the TAB Eureka.
@Adam Hamilton
Photo by: Club Menangle