Photo by Dan Costello
WHAT a perfect stage for the boy to become a man.
For so long The Lost Storm has been the “baby” of the field in the world’s richest harness race, but owner Justin Baker believes it won’t hold him back in Saturday night’s $2.1mil TAB Eureka at Menangle.
The race has long been a target for Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin’s latest superstar youngster despite the fact he will be one of just two three-year-olds taking on eight four-year-olds over a gruelling 2400m.
The TAB Eureka is restricted to three and four-year-old Australian-bred pacers.
“We made no secret of the fact we wanted a run in the race and there were plenty of offers from slot owners quite a few months back before we did the deal with TAB,” Baker said.
“Don’t get me wrong, we know the enormity of the challenge but we’ve also got a very big opinion of this horse. I’ve had some nice ones, but he’s the horse I’ve dreamed of getting.
“And why wouldn’t you want to be part of a race like this. It’s new, it’s exciting, it’s the world’s richest race and it’s putting harness racing back in the headlines here.”
Baker, who bred The Lost Storm with co-trainer Clayton Tonkin, said the preferential barrier draw conditions of the race – where three-year-olds get the best barriers – was a driving factor behind contesting it.
“The three-year-olds need it and deserve it. You wouldn’t run a three-year-old without that advantage. It’s just too big an ask,” he said.
“But we all know the importance of barrier draws, especially in harness racing. He’ll start from two while the main dangers, Catch A Wave and Leap To Fame, will be out in eight and nine. It’s definitely a big help to us, but we’ll need it.”
Baker hatched a plan with Stewart and Tonkin to include a trip to Queensland in July as part of the conditioning and preparation for The Lost Storm going towards the TAB Eureka.
“Absolutely. A trip away, staying somewhere away from home and racing at a different track … it’s all important and he handled it so well. It was very important,” he said.
The Lost Storm won both starts in the Queensland raid, including thrashing his rivals in the Group 1 Queensland Derby on July 22.
“With that behind him, Emma and Clayton were happy to go to Menangle without a lead-up race there. They’re adamant it’s not necessary and they’ve had plenty of success taking horses there for the first time,” Baker said.
More bluntly, Stewart said: “I think it’s bullsh*t this belief you simply must have a run at Menangle to get used to because it’s a bigger track than all others.”
The Lost Storm firmed from $6 into $4.60 after the draw, largely because of wide draws for Leap To Fame and Catch A Wave.
"I've got a feeling we'll see just how good he is on Saturday night," Baker said.
Grant Dixon, who trains $1.80 favourite Leap To Fame, had The Lost Storm stay at his Queensland stables in July and oozes respect for the pacer.
“He’s one of the main dangers, no doubt about it. He’s very exciting and his record is fantastic. I guess it just comes down to whether a really good three-year-old is good enough to beat the best of a strong four-year-old bunch,” he said.
· Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
