Vicbred Stars Put Eureka Claims on the Line
THE importance of tomorrow night's Vicbred 4YO pacing finals goes way beyond the hefty prize money for many of the key runners.
The two $100,000 features at Melton shape as key “feeder” races for world’s richest pacing race, the $1.5 million TAB Eureka at Menangle on November 21.
The switch from early September to late November for the Eureka has dramatically increased the importance of these Vicbred finals as references for slot owners weighing-up which horse to take.
At least half the field in the Vicbred 4YO Entires and Geldings final (race five) are genuinely in the mix for TAB Eureka slots.
They include the rapidly emerging The Last Trip, who is unbeaten in five starts this season and since joining the powerhouse Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin stable.
Stewart and Tonkin have been the dominant barn in the TAB Eureka’s three-year history, landing two wins (Encipher in 2023 and Bay of Biscay last year), along with Bay Of Biscay also finishing to Don Hugo in 2024.
The Last Trip’s managing owner Ben Said knows the importance of tomorrow nights race.
“It’s our dream to have a Eureka runner and we know everyone with a slot will be using this race as a key form guide,” he said.
To underline the strength of the race, the Stewart and Tonkin-trained Fox Dan ran second to Bay Of Biscay as a three-year-old in last year’s Eureka.
Fox Dan has been down on form and will be looking to earn another crack at Eureka with a better showing tonight.
Other Stewart and Tonkin-trained runners like Fairplay (gate four), Apollostorm (three) I Am The Storm (six) are also on Eureka watch.
As is the Geoff Webster-trained Seathestars, who ran sixth as a three-year-old in last year’s Eureka and has gate two tonight.
Encipher won the inaugural Eureka as a four-year-old mare and connections of The Art Of Success will be trying to do the same if she impresses again and posts a 10th successive win in tonight’s Vicbred 4YO Mares’ final (race four).
The TAB Eureka favour extends to Menangle tomorrow night where hot $2.50 prepost favourite Loucasso chases his second run from as many starts for new trainer-driver Seaton Grima in race six.
