LEVIATHAN owner Mick Harvey is backing the genius of Jason Grimson in Saturday week’s $1.5 million TAB Eureka.
Harvey agonized over which horse to take his “Go Racing” slot in the world’s richest race, but Grimson twisted his arm.
“Jason was adamant I had to take Hesitate. He was really strong on him. Cam (Hart, driver) gave him a strong push, too,” Harvey said.
“On form, it’s hard to pick him, but Jason is adamant he’s the right horse.
“It’s been tricky with Jason away in NZ, but he’s back home on the weekend and assures me he’ll have the horse spot on.”
Hesitate ran the best race of his career when third in last year’s TAB Eureka when trained and driven by Luke McCarthy.
But the four-year-old has only won two of 17 starts since.
In a last-ditch bid to rejuvenate Hesitate for a second crack at the race, Harvey transferred Hesitate to Grimson late last month.
His only start for Grimson was an inconclusive eighth in the $100,000 Bidgee at Wagga last Friday night.
“We know how good and fast he is at his peak and I’m putting my faith in Jason to have him there on the night,” Harvey said.
Hesitate joins last year's runner-up Fox Dan and Queensland star Fate Awaits as the third horse to back-up from running in last year's TAB Eureka.
And Hesitate cements Harvey’s twin-pronged attack on this year's TAB Eureka.
Two weeks ago, he used his Harnesslink slot to lock-in brilliant Victoria Oaks winner Bettor Beach.
She became the first three-year-old filly to land a TAB Eureka slot in the race’s four-year history.
Hesitate’s slot means there is only one remaining slot to fill in this year’s TAB Eureka, that of Kevin and Kay Seymour.
It is expected to go to one of their own pacers, either Fire And Passion or Path To Greatness.
Photo by: Toby Coutts