Record holders to lead the charge

JUST like the trusty steeds during the Battle of Beersheba, a host of star pacers will lead the charge at Club Menangle tonight.

During the Great War, a series of allied attacks took place on October 31, 1917, with the ANZAC Mounted Division among the first in action.

Shortly afterwards, a mounted infantry charge by the Australian Mounted Division’s 4th and 12th Light Horse Regiments (4th Light Horse Brigade) took place.

With bayonets in their hands and their rifles slung across their back, the Aussies’ bold tactic never caught the enemy off guard to capture Beersheba and part of the enemy garrison.

The victory proved to be a significant turning point of the war by breaking the Turkish defensive line from Gaza to Beersheba.

Proud of its strong connections to the Light Horse Regiments, Club Menangle hosts a special service on the anniversary of the battle.

Now the site of the southern hemisphere’s premier racetrack, during the war the land was used as a training ground for divisions of the Australian Light Horse Infantry Regiment based at Holsworthy.

As for tonight’s stellar program, six Breeders’ Challenge Finals headline the card, with the features assembling some of the nation’s best young pacers – including Australasian record holders Loucasso and Ark Sea.

Widely-regarded as the southern hemisphere’s most exciting prospect, Loucasso boasts a perfect record from four starts since joining Seaton Grima’s team this year.

Breaking 1:50 in each of his wins, Loucasso’s most recent triumph was in a Breeders’ Challenge semi last week where he obliterated the Australasian three-year-old record.

Covering the mile in a breathtaking 1:47.6, Loucasso slashed 1.2 seconds from Sao Paulo Simba’s mark which was set at Club Menangle on September 8, 2025.

Only four pacers have gone quicker on this side of the equator!

My Field Marshall became the first – and remains the only – to better 1:47 thanks to his 1:46.9 2018 Miracle Mile triumph.

Have Faith In Me stopped the clock in 1:47.5 in February 2016, with Cya Art equalling the time in September 2025 before Rakero Rocket rounded out the quartet with his 1:47.3 win last January.

Fast forward to his pending assignment, Loucasso will need to be at his best after drawing barrier 10 in what is the toughest field he faced.

TAB Fixed Odds believe the son of Sweet Lou is up to the occasion, installing him as a $1.30 favourite, with Yottie the only other runner under double figures at $3.90 from gate five.

Prepared by Bernie Hewitt, Yottie has won his three starts from a spell, including a series heat and semi.

Also undefeated from three starts since returning from a break, Ark Sea is a $1.55 hot shot in the fillies’ division.

Trained by Sam Hewitt and driven by Will Rixon, Ark Sea stopped the clock in 1:49.8 last week to shave a tenth of a second from Anntonia’s record for three-year-old fillies set in the 2021 Breeders’ Challenge Final.

Rixon will once again partner the daughter of Stay Hungry from barrier six, which comes into four with the emergencies taken out.

Winner of her last five starts, Queensland raider Stripes is considered the main danger at $2.80 from gate seven for trainer Chantal Turpin.