Danny's Slot Dilemma

LEVIATHAN owner Danny Zavitsanos snapped up a TAB Eureka slot three years ago with a view to winning the world’s richest harness race with one of his own horses.

Not only is he yet to win it, but none of the horses he and wife, Jo, own have even run in the $2.1 million feature at Menangle.

“Hopefully we can change both those things this year,” Zavitsanos said.

“We’ve had some horses very close to being good enough at the time, but you can’t let your heart rule your head so we’ve gone with outside horses in the first two years.”

“Team Zav” partnered with Australia’s then boom pacer Captain Ravishing in the inaugural 2023 TAB Eureka and, after an injury-interrupted preparation, he ran third to star mare Encipher and the great Leap To Fame.

Buoyed by the success of a four-year-old mare (Encipher) in year one, Team Zav used their slot on then four-year-old Major Delight last year. She finished sixth to subsequent Miracle Mile and Inter Dominion winner Don Hugo.

“We’re getting closer to making a decision with the race just five weeks away,” Zavitsanos said.

“We’re very tight with the Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin stable so it’ll be one of their horses, and the closer we get, the more likely it seems it will actually be one we own this time.”

That’s why tonight is so important.

Two front-runners – four-year-old War Dan Buddy and three-year-old Fox Dan – both race tonight (Saturday).

War Dan Buddy, a winner of eight races and almost $400,000, is top seed right now.

He can go close to cementing the slot if he beats a strong field in the opening race at Menangle.

But Zavitsanos has a big opinion of Fox Dan, who has his second run back from a spell in the second race at Melton tonight. He’s raced just nine times for five wins.

“Fox Dan is only three, but Bay Of Biscay ran second last year and showed the three-year-olds could be very competitive.

“This looks like a really good batch of three-year-olds this year so I’d expect quite a few to take on the TAB Eureka. That’s why we’ll seriously consider Fox Dan.

“Let me get through this weekend then let’s chat again.”

Zavitsanos, based at Geelong an hour outside of Melbourne, has long been one of the TAB Eureka’s biggest supporters.

“I love it. In fact, I love slot races in general. They’ve been absolutely fantastic harness racing especially,” he said.

“That’s why finding the right horse for our slot and, hopefully winning it one day, would be a dream come true for Jo and I.”

 PHOTO: Club Menangle/Pacepix