Bay Of Biscay. Photo by Club Menangle
Chariots of Fire winner Bay Of Biscay will have to overcome a wide barrier if he is to achieve a long-term goal and go one better than last year’s second in the TAB Eureka at Menangle on Saturday night.
One of four runners in the race for leading Victorian trainer Emma Stewart, connections of Bay Of Biscay have been targeting Eureka redemption since the then three-year-old charged home for second to Don Hugo in last year's edition.
In the time since Bay Of Biscay achieved a Group 1 success in the Chariots of Fire at Menangle in the autumn, a victory that qualified him for a Miracle Mile berth.
Such was the focus on the Eureka though, connections bypassed the race and the entire has been travelling between Sydney and Melbourne in recent weeks to be fully tuned up for Saturday night.
The mission struck somewhat of a hurdle when Bay of Biscay drew one from the outside for the Eureka but he still represents the class factor in a race that surprisingly features six three-year-olds in the 10-horse field.
Bay Of Biscay has had his Eureka slot locked away since the Chariots win in May so while many of his rivals have been up and firing trying to impress slot holders to gain their berth, Stewart has been able to carefully build his preparation to be peaking this week.
Cameron Hart is aboard having driven him to success in both the Chariots and the Hondo Grattan at Menangle earlier in the year and the entire's record at the circuit stands at three wins and three placings from six attempts.
Fellow four-year-old Fighter Command will also be seeking Eureka redemption after illness robbed him of the chance to take part last start.
The Jess Tubbs-trained stallion qualified again for this year's race with a demolition job on his rivals in Hobart two back and pushed multiple Group 1 winner Catch A Wave when beaten a head at Melton since.
He beat Bay of Biscay home there and he draws inside that rival so could do it again.
Bay of Biscay's stablemate Miki To Success has been dealt a blow with the outside barrier but he is flying with big wins at his last two starts including a 15.5m romp in the Discovery Stakes.
That was his first attempt at the circuit and distance and he looks to be at his peak at the right time.
The three-year-olds are favoured with the inside barriers under the conditions of the Eureka and progressive colt Hesitate could be the one to capitalise having come up with gate two.
He is trained and driven by Luke McCarthy who has a perfect Eureka record in the sulky, driving the inaugural winner Encipher before steering and training Don Hugo last year.
Hesitate has had seven weeks off since his Queensland Derby second but was kept up to the mark with a trial win and the race could pan out well for him from the low draw.
Seathestars has taken great strides this campaign with four wins and a luckless Queensland Derby fourth from his last five starts.
He draws the inside and has the gate speed to hold a prominent position so can be in the finish.
To view the form and selections for the meeting click here.
