TAB Eureka takes some twists
LEAP To Fame’s trainer Grant Dixon snared a second starter in the world’s richest race after a night that only added more intrigue to the $2.1mil TAB Eureka.
Dixon and wife, Trista, already had Call To Order in the Racing Queensland slot, but Western Jewel’s Wayne Loader surprised by securing star three-year-old Fate Awaits for his slot.
True to Loader’s support of NSW’s western district, Fate Awaits was bred by Phil and Denise Thurston and Forbes and has since won nine of his 19 starts, including three at Group 1 level, and banked $636,084.
Most expected leviathan Queensland owner Kevin Seymour to use his slot on Fate Awaits, who he owns, but that slot now remains open with the likes of Path To Greatness, Cool And Classy, Charge Ahead and French Fries the leading contenders to fill it.
While Fate Awaits inclusion was expected, last night delivered major twists at Melton and Menangle.
The two favourites for the TAB Eureka, Bay Of Biscay and Fighter Command were beaten in their final lead-up race at Melton, finishing fourth and second respectively to the gifted but enigmatic Catch A Wave in a star-studded 1720m free-for-all.
But both ran well enough to show they were on target.
There is speculation Bay of Biscay, who tired late after sitting outside the leader, could back-up again this week to prime him for Saturday week’s TAB Eureka, which he finished in last year.
Bay Of Biscay’s stablemate Miki To Success, one of Australia’s best three-year-olds last season, burst back into form at just the right time for a knockout blow in the Racenet Discovery Stakes (2300m) at Menangle last night.
It was a career-best performance in blistering time and the 15.5m win against some other key TAB Eureka hopefuls has surely put him right back in the mix to land one of the four remaining slots.
It added to the already strong hand trainers Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin have in the TAB Eureka, a race they won with Encipher in 2023 and had Bay Of Biscay finish a luckless second last year.
Along with Bay of Biscay, they have Miki To Success, Fox Dan, Go Miki and War Dan Buddy pushing right to the top of contenders for the remaining slots.
Two of those slots – Team Zavitsanos and Summit Bloodstock/Aaron Bain Racing – are committed to taking Stewart and Tonkin trained runners, but now it’s a matter of which way they go over the next few days.
The most intriguing and perhaps only “independent” slot remaining is held by race sponsor, TAB.
Insiders said they were focused on Our Luciano or Royal Cruiser, but they ran well below their best at Menangle last night, leaving their selection panel with plenty of thinking to do.
If they go on last night, TAB would surely snap-up Miki To Success.
Stewart and Tonkin will at least equal the race record with three starters, but Miki To Success could give them a fourth.
The confirmed runners so far are: Bay Of Biscay (Soho Standardbreds slot), Fighter Command (Tasracing), Hesitate (John Singleton), Seathestars (Cordina Racing), Fate Awaits (Western Jewel) and Call To Order (Racing Queensland).
Bay Of Biscay remains an easing $3.60 favourite from Fighter Command ($4), Hesitate ($6). Miki To Success firmed from $20 into $8 after last night’s win, making him equal fourth favourite with Fate Awaits at $8.
PHOTO: Dan Costello