Australian Hall of Fame Thoroughbred trainer John Hawkes is growing in confidence he can win the world’s richest harness race.
Hawkes described barrier one in Saturday night’s $2.1 million AUD TAB Eureka at Menangle Park as “just perfect” for his young pacing star Seathestars.
“He’s got early speed and that gives Will [Rixon, driver] all the options from there. It’s just perfect,” he said.
The Geoff Webster-trained Seathestars, who has won four of his past five starts, has raced twice at Menangle for a second and a sparkling last-start win.
“He’s had a trial since and felt fantastic. He just seems to be getting better every time he steps out,” said Rixon. “He’s so exciting and I think he’s right in this race, especially with that great draw.”
Being a three-year-old, Seathestars had to get a preferential barrier draw over the four-year-olds, but the unprecedented presence of six three-year-olds in this year’s race made the draw ultra important.
So many three-year-olds has certainly made the task harder for their older rivals, who had to draw wide and are headed by last year’s runner-up Bay Of Biscay (gate 11, but will move into nine) and Fighter Command (eight, but will move into seven). Despite the wide draws, Bay Of Biscay and Fighter Command still share favouritism.
Hardest hit by the draw was powerhouse last-start Racenet Discovery Stakes winner Miki To Success, who will start from the outside (gate 10).
In contrast, champion driver Luke McCarthy’s quest to remain unbeaten in the TAB Eureka soared after his brilliant three-year-old Hesitate drew gate two. McCarthy won the inaugural 2023 race on the Emma Stewart-trained Encipher and then trained and drove Don Hugo to win last year.
“I couldn’t have picked a better draw myself,” he said. “He’s got early speed, but with no horses off the back row, I’ve got all the options. It’s great to draw inside so many of the other nice three-year-olds.”
Don Hugo won last year’s race first-up off a five-week break and McCarthy is being even more daring with Hesitate. It’s seven weeks since he last raced when second in the Group 1 Queensland Derby at Albion Park on July 19.
“I’m not worried about the lack of racing, it suits this horse,” said McCarthy. “He had a good foundation in Brisbane and I’m thrilled how much he’s come on since then as a horse. He’ll be better than he was in Queensland.
“He had a good trial and then that workout between races at Menangle which he won last Saturday night. He’s fit, don’t worry about that.”
Champion trainer Emma Stewart has only confirmed two drivers for her record four runners. Ryan Sanderson will be aboard Fox Dan and Cam Hart will continue his association with Bay Of Biscay.
“We’ve got some thinking and talking to do on the others, especially now Miki To Success has drawn out there,” she said.
Trainers Grant and Trista Dixon have locked-in drivers for their three runners with Grant on Fate Awaits, Robbie Morris on Path To Greatness and Adam Sanderson aboard Call To Order.
Below is the draw results for Saturday's TAB Eureka slot race for three and four-year-old Australian-bred pacers.
TAB Eureka
Post - Horse - Driver
1. Seathestars – Will Rixon
2. Hesitate – Luke McCarthy
3. Fate Awaits – Grant Dixon
4. Path To Greatness – Robbie Morris
5. Fox Dan – Ryan Sanderson
6. Go Miki – TBC
7. Luvareschs – (Emerg)
8. Fighter Command – James Herbertson
9. Call To Order – Adam Sanderson
10. Glitter Aint Gold – (Emerg)
11. Bay Of Biscay – Cam Hart
12. Our Goat (Emerg)
13. Ravishing Sloy (Emerg)
14. Miki To Success – TBC
(With files from TAB Eureka)