HALF the field for the world’s richest harness race is locked in with confirmation star Queenslander Fate Awaits will return for his second tilt at the $1.5 million TAB Eureka at Menangle on November 21.
Just as he did last year, Wayne Loader has used his “Western Jewel” slot to do a deal with Fate Awaits’ owners Kevin and Kay Seymour.
It’s true to Loader’s commitment to support NSW’s western region given Fate Awaits was bred in Forbes by Phil and Denise Thurston.
“That’s how we landed on Fate Awaits when he was only a three-year-old last year and we agreed then I’d get the first option to take him again this year,” Loader said.
“Kevin (Seymour) has been great to deal with and I’m thrilled we can team up again and hopefully get a better result than last year.”
The Grant Dixon-trained Fate Awaits ran below his best and finished ninth, albeit only beaten 9.2m, behind Bay Of Biscay last year.
Seymour said he was delighted to share the TAB Eureka experience again with Loader.
“I think we’ve got a lot in common, we’re both really passionate about the sport,” he said.
“Wayne is a fantastic person and wonderful supporter of harness racing and it feels a great match for us to come together.
“I love Wayne’s desire to support his local area and that’s where Fate Awaits is ideal because he was born and raised there.”
Fate Awaits, who won the Group 1 Protostar at two and then the Grup 1 Rising Sun at three, boasts 15 wins and $821,937.
He is a commanding favourite to cap his TAB Eureka preparation with another win from barrier one at Albion Park tomorrow (Saturday) night.
“He’s really peaked again at the right time for this. He’s strengthened up Grant thinks he’s as good as he’s had him,” Seymour said.
Fate Awaits has won four of his past eight starts and finished second in the other four.
Four-year-olds have won all three runnings of the TAB Eureka, but Fate Awaits joins Double Lou as the only four-year-olds to have a slot so far for this year.
The other confirmed runners are three-year-old trio Loucasso (Rampant Standardbreds), Soho Charmer (Soho Standardbreds) and Bettor Beach (Harnesslink).
The Seymours will now be connected to two runners in the TAB Eureka as they have a slot of their own.
“We’re weighing up our options and will make a decision soon,” Kevin Seymour said. “What I can say for sure is that it will be one of our horses.”
Wayne Loader Slot Holder, Western Jewel has Fate Awaits as his hope.