John Singleton has pinned his hopes on exciting three-year-old Hesitate to give him back-to-back wins in the world’s richest harness race.

Hesitate, part-owned and formerly trained in Victoria by Damien Burns and Scott Petrie, was confirmed in Singleton’s $2.1mil TAB Eureka slot today (Tuesday).

It came after Hesitate ran a terrific second to star Kiwi pacer Rubira in last Saturday night’s Group 1 Queensland Derby at Albion Park.

Insiders say there was strong competition from a rival slot owner to secure Hesitate.

Singleton teamed with champion trainer-driver Luke McCarthy to win last year’s TAB Eureka with subsequent Inter Dominion and Miracle Mile winner Don Hugo.

“Our team think Hesitate is a horse on the up at the right time and that it’s a year where the three-year-olds can win the TAB Eureka,” Singleton said.

“Bay Of Biscay got close last year and the belief is this three-year-old crop is even stronger than last year.

“It was exciting to win the race (TAB Eureka) in just its second year last year and we would love to go back and do it again.”

The TAB Eureka is restricted to three and four-year-old Australian-bred pacers, but a three-year-old is yet to win it.

The Emma Stewart-trained Bay Of Biscay came closest last year when he flew home late for second to Don Hugo.

For McCarthy, Hesitate’s slot gives him the chance to remain unbeaten in the TAB Eureka. He drove the Emma Stewart-trained Encipher to win in 2023 and won with Don Hugo last year.

Hesitate has raced just 23 times for 11 wins and five seconds.

He ran second to exciting Kiwi pacer Rubira in last Saturday night’s Group 1 Queensland Derby at Albion Park.

“I’m thrilled this horse (Hesitate) is in. I never doubted he’d get a slot, he’s so good, but it’s great to have it confirmed so we can just focus on the best pathway to the race now rather than having to prove anything to anyone,” McCarthy said.

“He’s a genuine winning chance in a race like the TAB Eureka. He’s got so much speed and the preferential draws the three-year-olds get is a big factor.

“He’ll have a few easy days after the Derby run and then we’ll have a look for the most suitable lead-up races between now and the Eureka. He’ll be an even better horse by then than he is now.”

Hesitate’s managing owner Mick Harvey added: “We were already well advanced in talks with Singo’s team and they obviously liked what they saw in the Derby.

“Luke’s got a huge opinion of this horse and each run is a learning curve. He should be right where we want home by TAB Eureka night.

“As many have said, there’s a bit of a question mark on the depth of the four-year-olds this year, while we know this is a really strong batch of three-year-olds and Hesitate is clearly one of the best of them.

“It’s also super exciting to team with somebody like Singo, who has done so much for racing and been a huge supporter of the TAB Eureka from day one.”

PHOTO: Dan Costello