Reigning champ ready for title defence

REIGNING champion Sparkling Sea will begin her New South Wales Breeders’ Challenge title defence at Club Menangle today.

One of three David Hewitt-trained runners in last season’s Two-Year-Old Final at the world class venue, Sparkling Sea claimed the victory with Brad Hewitt in the cart.

Sparkling Sea’s stablemate Yirradiva, which was driven by Luke McCarthy, made her way into third.

Sent for a spell following the Group One, Sparkling Sea has continued her impressive form this time around, with six wins and a second from 11 starts, including the Raith Memorial and Golden Easter Egg at Club Menangle.

“She’s been going well again this season and hopefully that can continue to be the case,” Hewitt said. “She’s still got a bit of racing to do before the end of the year and it’ll be nice if she can pick up a big one along the way.”

As for her pending assignment, the daughter of Lather Up will contest the opening Breeders’ Challenge qualifier over 1609 metres.

With Brad to take the reins once again, Sparkling Sea faces a daunting task as the widest drawn in the field of nine.

“She’s a filly which just seems to draw wide, so we’ll see what happens from there,” Hewitt said. “It makes it harder from there, but she can make her luck a bit and will probably have to again this time.

“I was happy with her run when runner-up against older opposition last week when first-up from a break and she will improve from that.”

Despite her difficult starting position, the three-year-old is a $2 TAB Fixed Odds favourite, with Queensland raider Stripes considered the main danger at $3.50.

Winner of her last three starts – including the Group One Qbred Triad Final – for trainer Chantal Turpin, Stripes will begin from barrier six.

Triumphant in 1:52.2 at Club Menangle last week, One More Reason is on the third line of betting at $5 from gate four.

“I’d say Stripes is the one to beat as she is in terrific form,” Hewitt said. “One More Reason was impressive last week and they’ve both drawn better than us.

“We’ll just have to see how the race pans out and hope for the best.”

Earlier on the card boom youngster Loucasso is expected to have no trouble continuing his perfect racing return in a Breeders’ Challenge heat for colts and geldings.

Successful during his last three starts of 2025, Loucasso was sent for a spell following his Breeders’ Crown Final win in Melton on December 13.

Transferred to New South Wales horseman Seaton Grima during the interim, Loucasso has won his two starts as a three-year-old in devastating fashion.

To be driven by Grima, the son of Sweet Lou has drawn to find the lead from barrier five.

TAB Fixed Odd has the colt listed as a prohibitive $1.10 favourite, with Alert Bay the only other runner under double figures at $3.80.

Runner-up behind Loucasso during his last two outings, Alert Bay will begin from gate three for trainer-driver James Rattray.