He was the last one in the field, but with the right kind of luck, he will be the first one home.
That’s the hope of Captain Hammerhead’s connections ahead of Saturday night’s The Eureka at Club Menangle.
One of two three-year-old’s in the $2.1million feature, Captain Hammerhead earned his berth in the elite field by capturing The Singo at the world class venue a fortnight ago.
The Singo is a concept race by flamboyant businessman John Singleton, who used the event as a qualifier to fill his slot in The Eureka.
Interestingly, Singleton’s plan wasn’t necessarily to select the winner of the $50,000 feature as his representative.
Nonetheless, Singleton chose Captain Hammerhead, which has drawn favourably in the pole for trainer David Moran.
The son of Captaintreacherous is among the outsiders at $34 with TAB Fixed Odds.
“He was always going to draw one or two, so we knew he’d be close to the pegs regardless,” Moran said. “I’d say I will have to hunt him out of the gate a bit to be forward enough as I’m tipping there will be a lot of speed.
“I’m hoping I can be behind whatever leads early before it hands up, putting us two-back on the pegs, but I won’t get into a war.
“I’ve changed his gear a little to liven him up and his work was amazing this week.
“He’s going into it in the best possible shape he can be, but he is going to need plenty of luck against such a star-studded field.”
Citing Leap To Fame as the one to beat, Moran believes Miracle Mile champion, Catch A Wave, is the ‘most likely’ to upset the $1.70 favourite.
“I can’t see anything holding out Leap To Fame if he comes looking for the front apart from Catch A Wave,” Moran said.
“It will be pretty exciting to see whether Leap To Fame can sit on the outside and win, but hopefully that action will be going on behind me at the finish!”
