Loucasso after winning the 2025 Protostar
IT felt like half the crowd erupted when Loucasso blazed his way to victory in last night’s $500,000 Group 1 Protostar at Albion Park.
A huge team of 30-plus part-owners through Summit Bloodstock roared as driver Mark Pitt went for home on the final bend and held-on to win by 2.2m over a gallant Ark Sea with another 16.1m away to third placed Atua Magic.
Training powerhouse Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin finished second in last year’s inaugural Protostar with The Highlight Reel and Loucasso, one of their three runners last night, made it one better.
The race changed dramatically at the start when things got very tight and favourite Cardigan Dan galloped at the start, losing all chance and badly checking Fight For Victory at the same time.
Pitt then seized the moment.
“My horse has got so much speed, I just went for it. He (Will Rixon, driver) said he wanted to hold the lead on Ark Sea, but I just went on with it and found the front,” Pitt said.
“He’s really good, this horse. They (Emma and Clayton) love him and he deserved this one.”
It was Pitt’s biggest win.
“Yep, a half million dollar race. It’s bigger than my Vicbred and Breeders Crown finals,” he said. “It’s a big thrill to come up here and win such a great race.”
Summit Bloodstock spokesman Adam Walsh said: “It’s just so good for the game to have a huge team of owners involved and so many new faces to the game.
“All credit to Jamie (Durnberger-Smith). He’s built Summit and turned it into something great. We’ve got so many horses and so many new people into the game.”
Ark Sea, a filly against the boys, ran a booming race for second and continually made ground on the winner without looking like running him down.
PHOTO: Dan Costello
