Seymour aims for "Greatness" with TAB Eureka slot runner
LEVIATHAN owners Kevin and Kay Seymour have gone back to one of “our own” to fill their slot in Saturday week’s $2.1mil TAB Eureka at Menangle.
Seymour tonight confirmed Nutrien Classic winner and NSW Derby runner-up Path To Greatness had regained form and fitness in just the nick of time to cement the slot.
Champion pacer Leap To Fame raced in the Seymour’s slot in the inaugural 2023 TAB Eureka when second to Encipher. They changed tack last year and partnered with the Emma Stewart-trained Bay Of Biscay, who also ran second.
“We’re desperate to go one better. We love this race and everything it stands for and means to the industry,” Kevin Seymour said.
Path To Greatness becomes the third confirmed Seymour-owned runner in the TAB Eureka. The others are Fate Awaits (Western Jewel slot) and Call To Order (Racing Queensland) and all three are trained by Grant Dixon.
“It’s a real feat to get three in,” Dixon said. “Leap To Fame steals the headlines, but as a stable, we’ve never had a stronger bunch of horses and getting three into the TAB Eureka underlines that.”
Dixon said a good veterinary report and exciting track work hit out this morning (Friday) had convinced he, wife Trista, and the Seymours to lock in Path To Greatness.
“He was always the front-runner, but he had that little hiccup when his blood wasn’t right,” he said. “He got the all-clear Thursday, so we gave him a good workout this morning to get a gauge and he felt great.
“He’s seemed to have sparked right back up and he’s raced well at Menangle a few times before, so he’s the right horse for it.”
Dixon warned punters not to take Path To Greatness lightly.
“I’ve said all along, and nothing has changed, there’s really not much at all between him and Fate Awaits,” he said. “He beat him home in the NSW Derby and has so often had a harder run when they’ve clashed.
“He’s got gate speed and, hopefully with a good draw, he can settle somewhere up on the pace and he’ll run a big race.”
Path To Greatness has raced 16 times for seven wins, five placings and banked $177,844.
With Miki To Success confirmed in the Summit Bloodstock/Aaron Bain Racing slot earlier today, only two slots remain: Team Zav and that of race sponsor TAB.
All slot runners must be confirmed by Monday with the barrier draw live on Sky Racing on Tuesday morning.
Path To Greatness - Photo Courtesy of Dan Costello