Watson's TAB Eureka quest takes a twist

LEVIATHAN owner Rob Watson’s quest to win the world’s richest harness race has taken a personal detour.

The WA-based Watson, one of Australasia’s biggest owner-breeders through his Soho Standardbreds empire, is one of the biggest supporters of the $2.1mil TAB Eureka and was the first to lock-in a slot runner this year with Bay Of Biscay.

But Watson has come to Sydney 10 days early for a racing challenge of the human variety when he tackles tomorrow’s (Sunday) Sydney Marathon.

Running marathons is nothing new to Watson’ who boasts a remarkable personal best time of 2:48 – that’s a staggering 3min58sec pace per kilometre.

“I’ve come out of retirement to run Sydney because it's the only leg of the Abbots World Marathon Majors I haven’t run,” Watson laughed. “I’ve only been training for 18 weeks, so I won’t get anywhere near my PB this time.”

The other legs of the Abbotts series are Chicago, Boston, New York, London, Berlin and Tokyo.

“I’ve run a few of them many times, including five goes at New York and London, and I’ve broken three hours in many of them,” Watson said.

“Just when I thought coming back to complete the set Sydney would be it for me, they’ve now just added Cape Town as another leg, so I’ll be off to do that next year.”

After tomorrow’s (Sunday) race, Watson will stay in Sydney and switch focus to Bay Of Biscay’s quest to win next Saturday night.

“I was happy to grab him early, especially after he ran such a great race as a three-year-old last year,” he said.

“He’s a proven big race performer, he won the Chariots Of Fire at Menangle earlier this year and he’s strong so the 2300m will really suit him.”

Watson has been an outspoken fan of the TAB Eureka since it was first mooted.

“I jumped at the opportunity to grab a slot as soon bids opened,” he said. “It’s such an important race for the industry and the attention it brings, let alone the crowds they get at Menangle, is everything the game needs.

“As a sport, it’s critical we have mega races like this, really aspirational races, to stay relevant.

“Look at the massive impact of the Everest in thoroughbred racing.”

Bay Of Biscay is $4 equal favourite with Fighter Command in latest TAB Eureka betting.

The $150,000 Group 1 Len Smith Mile will be a superb side dish on TAB Eureka night, especially with champion pacer Swayzee contesting it first-up from a spell.

Mighty NSW mare Eye Keep Smiling will also head to the Len Smith if she can beat the boys at her first run back from a break at Menangle tonight (Saturday).

While last month’s Brisbane Inter Dominion runner-up Speak The Truth caps his preparation from gate one in the free-for-all at Albion Park tonight.