Boom youngster Loucasso will make his highly-anticipated return this weekend.
The Emma Stewart-trained colt is engaged in Saturday night’s Melton meeting in what will be his first outing since being sent for a spell following his Breeders’ Crown victory last December.
In a sensational freshman campaign, Loucasso also captured the Australian Pacing Gold Final and the $500,000 Protostar Slot Race at Albion Park in a season which netted seven wins and a second from nine starts.
A trial winner in Melton a fortnight ago, the son of Sweet Lou will begin from barrier nine over 2240 metres.
“It’s not going to be an easy task for him coming from the back row, but it is what it is,” Stewart said. “We’ve been very happy with his work and he’s going as well as he can be first-up from a break.”
Loucasso’s outing is the initial step towards another Queensland campaign, with the Derby and The Rising Sun at the top of the three-year-old’s agenda.
The Rising Sun is scheduled for July 4, with the Derby a fortnight later.
Looking further ahead, Loucasso’s calendar includes the Victoria Derby and his Breeders’ Crown title defence.
Connections have also set their sights on The Eureka, although no details about the slot race – date or prizemoney – have been released.
Originally slated as a three-year deal, The Eureka’s $2.1million in stakes was funded by slot holders and the widely-criticised stallion levy.
Stewart captured the inaugural edition with Encipher which was driven by Luke McCarthy in 2023, before securing last season’s running with Bay Of Biscay with Cameron Hart in the sulky.
McCarthy was also triumphant in 2024 as the trainer-driver of Don Hugo.
“He has a busy second half of the year,” Stewart said. “There are several major options for him and we’re hopeful The Eureka is one of them.”
