Another piece of the puzzle for the intriguing $2.1m TAB Eureka was solved on Tuesday when slot holders Wayne and Julie Loader named their own pacer as Ripp (Somebeachsomewhere) as the harness racing horse to represent them for their Western Jewel slot.
Trained by Bernie Hewitt, the gelding has done enough in his two runs from a spell at Tabcorp Park Menangle to satisfy Hewitt and his son Doug and giving Wayne and Julie the green light to push ahead for a crack at the rich race; something that has the couple as excited as theyāve ever been.
āFor a young horse, Ripp has certainly had his fair share of challenges with injury,ā said Wayne Loader.
āBut through it all, he has been a great patient and Bernie and his family have done a tremendous job to get him back on track each time.
āHopefully, now he will be able to show his true potential and build on the success he has already achieved.ā
Ripp was crowned New South Wales Three-Year-Old of the Year last season and has tasted success at Group 1 level.
Loader admits that the Eureka is by far his pacerās biggest test to date, taking on some of Australiaās best horses.
āIt will be a stiff test for him, for sure,ā he said.
āIt is the worldās richest harness race and horses like Catch A Wave, Captain Ravishing and Leap To Fame are in the upper echelon.
āBut win, lose or draw, it is going to be exciting and a great experience for us all.ā
To show how harness racing can be a great leveller, Rippās regular driver Doug Hewitt could possibly find himself in a unique situation on the weekend of the Eureka.
It is well known that Doug is a talented rugby league halfback and there is every chance that if they qualify, on the day following the Eureka, he and his beloved Bathurst Panthers could be playing for a spot in the Peter McDonald Premiership Grand Final after making a surging run late in the season in the Western competition.
byĀ Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW