Always Hot in the 2025 NSW Derby
IT now looks a matter of when not if boom three-year-old Always Hot becomes a confirmed TAB Eureka runner.
The powerful colt stretched his unbeaten record to eight races when he toyed with a strong field in last Saturday night’s $200,000 Group 1 NSW Derby at Menangle.
Owner-breeder Peter Gleeson had flagged strong interest in the TAB Eureka before the Derby.
And co-trainer Emma Stewart had also mentioned the TAB Eureka as a probable target when comparing Always Hot to her former stable star, Ride High.
Stewart and co-trainer Clayton Tonkin already have the only confirmed runner in this year’s $2.1 mil TAB Eureka with Chariots Of Fire winner Bay Of Biscay landing Rob Watson’s Soho Standardbreds slot.
Driver Greg Sugars added his support to a TAB Eureka assault as he spoke in the moments after the NSW Derby win.
“He’s something special,” Sugars said. “The Eureka is a very attractive race for a horse like him. He really fits the bill and loves this track now.
“I don’t think I would be shy in having a crack at a race like that.”
Sugars compared Always Hot to former star Sushi Sushi as the best three-year-old he has driven.
“Not since Sushi Sushi have I driven one like him, he was exceptional,” he said.,
“I never thought I’d be partnered with one close to him, but this bloke is well on his way.”
Stewart and Tonkin won the inaugural TAB Eureka in 2023 with Encipher and trained Bay Of Biscay to finish a luckless second last year.
Don Hugo is the the latest to underline the strength and importance of the TAB Eureka have gone on to win the Inter Dominion and Miracle Mile since winning on September 7, last year.
Leap To Fame finished second in the inaugural TAB Eureka before starting his dominance of Australia's biggest races.
PHOTO: Club Menangle/Pacepix
