Singo locks in TAB Eureka runner
JOHN Singleton has grabbed plenty of racing headlines and hopes to add another one in the world’s richest harness race.
Singleton has opted to use his slot in the $2.1mil TAB Eureka on brilliant three-year-old pacer Hesitate.
The TAB Eureka is restricted to three and four-year-old Australian-bred pacers, but a three-year-old is yet to win it.
The Emma Stewart-trained Bay Of Biscay came closest last year when he flew home late for second to subsequent Inter Dominion and Miracle Mile winner, Don Hugo.
Ironically, Singleton will be trying to go back-to-back as the winning slot owner after teaming with Don Hugo last year.
And the connection runs deeper with Don Hugo’s trainer-driver Luke McCarthy also training Hesitate.
“Our team think Hesitate is a horse on the up at the right time and that it’s a year where the three-year-olds can win the TAB Eureka,” Singleton said.
“Bay Of Biscay got close last year and the belief is this three-year-old crop is even stronger than last year.
“It was exciting to win the race (TAB Eureka) in just its second year last year and we would love to go back and do it again.”
Hesitate has raced just 23 times for 11 wins and five seconds.
He ran second to exciting Kiwi pacer Rubira in last Saturday night’s Group 1 Queensland Derby at Albion Park.
“We were already well advanced in talks with Singo’s team and they obviously liked what they saw in the Derby,” Hesitate’s managing owner Mick Harvey said.
“Luke’s got a huge opinion of this horse and each run is a learning curve. He should be right where we want home by TAB Eureka night.
“As many have said, there’s a bit of a question mark on the depth of the four-year-olds this year, while we know this is a really strong batch of three-year-olds and Hesitate is clearly one of the best of them.”
With Hesitate locked in, McCarthy gets his chance to continue his unbeaten streak in the race.
He won on pick-up drive Encipher for trainer Emma Stewart in 2023 and then trained and drove Don Hugo to win last year.
“I’m thrilled this horse (Hesitate) is in. I never doubted he’d get a slot, he’s so good, but it’s great to have it confirmed so we can just focus on the best pathway to the race now rather than having to prove anything to anyone,” McCarthy said.
“He’s a genuine winning chance in a race like the TAB Eureka. He’s got so much speed and the preferential draws the three-year-olds get is a big factor.
“He’ll have a few easy days after the Derby run and then we’ll have a look for the most suitable lead-up races between now and the Eureka. He’ll be an even better horse by then than he is now.”
