Bay’s unfinished business

FOR almost 12 months the connections of star pacer Bay Of Biscay have been focused on just one race.

They even gave up a free ticket into the iconic $1mil Miracle Mile back in March to “save” Bay Of Biscay for the $2.1mil TAB Eureka at Menangle on September 6.

It’s because they have unfinished business and some history to create.

Bay Of Biscay was just three and discounted by most when he escaped a tricky pocket late and flashed home for a luckless second to subsequent Miracle Mile and Inter Dominion winner Don Hugo in last year’s TAB Eureka.

It stung and a pact was made by “Team Bay of Biscay” to return a year later and win it.

The entire has been carefully nursed through the past year, racing just nine times and bypassing not only the Miracle Mile but also the Group 1 Rising Sun in Brisbane last month.

Now he’s just 14 days out from the race and will have his final lead-up at Melton tonight (Saturday).

“There’s no hiding the fact we’re a bit obsessed with the race, but why wouldn’t you be when it’s worth $2.1 million and he’s lucky enough to get a second chance at it,” part-owner Russell Maisner said.

The TAB Eureka is restricted to Australian-bred three and four-year-old pacers only and Bay Of Biscay is trying to become the first horse to race to win it and contest it twice.

“Everything Emma and Clayton have done with the horse since last year has been with a view to having him primed for September 6 (this year),” Maisner said.

“This will be his third lead-up run, he’s had that trip to Menangle to race over the TAB Eureka distance (2300m) last start and this week should top him right off.

“It’s not an easy race this week (at Melton), especially from the back row, but we want a good hit out. We’d love to win, but it’s more about him getting another strong run under his belt and racing well again.”

What adds to the intrigue of tonight's Melton race is the fact Bay Of Biscay will clash for the first time with the pacer many rate his biggest danger in the TAB Eureka, Jess Tubb’s Fighter Command. They are first and second favourites at $3.50 and $5 respectively in prepost Eureka betting.

Like Maisner, Tubbs said winning tonight would be a nice bonus with Fighter Command, who was denied the chance to race against Bay Of Biscay in last year’s TAB Eureka because of a life-threatening twisted bowel just days before it.

“It’s three weeks since he won the Beautide down in Hobart which got his slot into the race (TAB Eureka), so he needs to race this week,” Tubbs said.

“We’d love to win, but the run will bring on again. It’s as much about telling us whether he will need another race or maybe a trial before the Eureka.”

Stewart won the inaugural 2023 TAB Eureka with Encipher, had Bay Of Biscay run second last year and could have four of the 10 runners on September 6.

While Bay Of Biscay is the only one with a slot so far, Fox Dan, War Dan Buddy, Go Miki and even Miki To Success remain strongly in contention.

 PHOTO: Club Menangle/Pacepix