Two stars of the TAB Eureka will light up Ballarat tomorrow morning.
Local trainers Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin will take Queensland Derby winner The Lost Storm and high-class mare Encipher to Bray Raceway for a private trial about 10.30am.
Stewart and Tonkin looked seriously at racing The Lost Storm this weekend, but there was no suitable race.
“We looked at a lot of options, including working them between races at Shepparton (tomorrow night) or Melton Saturday night, but we landed on just taking them into Ballarat,” Stewart said.
“Shepparton was a bit far, and working them Friday, not Saturday, fitted their preparation better.
“They’re both well, and obviously, Encipher raced last weekend, but it’s been two weeks since The Lost Storm won (at Melton).
“By giving them this workout tomorrow, we can work them again at home early next week before taking them up to Sydney.”
Stewart is thrilled Encipher will get her chance as the only mare in Saturday week’s $2.1mil race.
“We know how good she is because of how she works with the best at home,” she said. “She might not look impressive winning sometimes, but that’s just her.
“She’ll run a big race (in the Eureka). You saw her beat a strong free-for-all field here last week, and she will love the 2400m.”
