The $2.1 million TAB Eureka is still 10 months away, but Summit Bloodstock owner Jamie Durnberger-Smith said everything was geared towards winning it with Loucasso.
“Not just him, but all the good young people we have,” he said. “When we go to the yearling sale, we buy horses and win the TAB Eureka, which is the race everyone wants to win now.”
Loucasso is in the right stable with trainers Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin having won two of the three TAB Eurekas runs to date with Encipher in 2023 and the Bay of Biscay this year.
“A few months ago we deliberately bypassed the NSW Breeders Challenge with this horse to take our time and not push him too much this season,” Durnberger-Smith said.
“He has had a really good break and the Breeders Crown is a good way to end the season before we focus on the NSW Derby in March and then move on full steam ahead to the TAB Eureka.”
Loucasso has five wins from seven starts and has not raced since winning Australia’s richest youth race, the $500,000 Protostar at Albion Park, on July 12.
It was his second win of the season after capturing the Australian Gold Graduate 2YO final in Melton on May 24.
“You can see how light he has been playing and it’s all with an eye on next season,” Durnberger-Smith said.
“Clayton (Tonkin) said he’s ready this week and if you’ve seen his process you’ll understand why we’re all so excited about him. He just has electric speed. Clayton thinks he’s a star. He loves him.”
Loucasso will be a heavy favorite despite having to overcome a draw outside the front row (gate seven) in his Breeders Crown heat.
Due to a surprising shortage of runners, there is only one qualifying round, so the same field will line up for the $100,000 final eight days later.
Loucasso is headlining five runners at the Breeders Crown heats for Summit Bloodstock.
Not far behind him is the latest Group 1 Vicbred winner, Beach Diamond, in the second heat of the three-year-old fillies.
“She meets Soho Americano again, who she beat in the Vicbred final, but they have enjoyed a great rivalry this season,” Durnberger-Smith said.
“Cam Hart turned the race around last time with his ride on our filly, but Soho Americano has a better draw than us again this time.”
The Mick Stanley-trained Soho Americano, winner of the Queensland and Victoria Oaks, looks a sure leader from gate one and Beach Diamond is drawn to follow her everywhere from the back row (gate eight).
“We also have Captain Perfect in a three-year-old colt and gelding series, although he will need luck to be pulled out of some big dangers,” Durnberger-Smith said.
“Then there’s Degarmea Teale and Millie One ahead of us in the two heats for two-year-old fillies. Millie One is a work in progress and still has some filling to do, but she’s got talent and we think she’ll be a Beach Diamond next season.”
Through Adam Hamiltonfor Harness Racing Australia
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