Trainer Justin Prentice admits he isn’t getting carried away by his stable star Never Ending storming into favouritism for September’s Eureka (2300m), following his first-up win.
TABtouch reacted to Never Ending’s win in the Winter Cup (2536m) win by elevating him to $3.40 favouritism for the $2.1 million event.
Prentice said he had tried to block out the hype around Never Ending.
“It’s just another thing I don’t look into,” Prentice told Racing WA Harness.
“I try not to look at things like that, so I don’t put more pressure on myself.
“I just try and concentrate on the job I have to do and not read too much into it.”
Never Ending sits in front of Frankie Ferocious ($5), High Above ($7), The Lost Storm ($7.50) and Petracca ($8) in the market for the Eureka.
Prentice said he had enjoyed watching some of his Eureka rivals racing in Queensland over the past month.
“I do try and watch the big races,” he said.
“I’ve liked Luke McCarthy’s mare (Eye Keep Smiling) for a while now and she gets the draw advantage in the Eureka.
“I know people thought Frankie Ferocious was a disappointing run in The Rising Sun, but then you see Cam’s (Hart) wheel getting hit and I’m not sure what he’s supposed to do with a flat tyre.
“You know Emma (Stewart) and Clayton’s horses are always at their best when it matters, so it’s shaping to be an even race.”
Never Ending takes another step towards the Eureka in tomorrow’s Botra – Thanking Our President Pace (1730m) at Gloucester Park.
The four-year-old has drawn barrier six of eight in the Free-For-All event and looks set to be the testing material again.
Hampton Banner looms as Never Ending’s main danger from barrier five, while Bettor Aim will begin from barrier four in his first start for more than five years.
Prentice said he expected another strong showing from Never Ending.
“The draw allows us to see what happens inside us early,” he said.
“The mile is probably not the ideal trip in the way of a lead up to the Eureka, but I don’t think it will bother him.
“He’s been settled at home, and he seems good after the first-up run.”
Prentice will drive Never Ending in tomorrow night’s event.
In a further boost for Never Ending’s Eureka campaign, regular driver Gary Hall Jnr had two weeks taken off his suspension for two unacceptable drives at Gloucester Park last month.
It means Hall Jnr will be available to drive Never Ending in his lone Sydney start prior to the Eureka.
Watch Never Ending's first-up win HERE.
Tim Walker
Image - Pacepix