CHAMPION trainer Emma Stewart has an embarrassment of riches as she prepares for a record-breaking number of runners in the world’s richest harness race.

Stewart and co-trainer Clayton Tonkin, who won the inaugural 2023 TAB Eureka with former star mare Encipher, only have one of the six confirmed runners so far, last year’s runner-up Bay Of Biscay, but they are primed to snare at least two, maybe three the remaining slots.

The stable set a record with three runners last year, finishing second (Bay Of Biscay), third (High Above) and sixth (Major Delight).

Despite the race being just 12 days away, Stewart said she was in no rush to lock-down runners for the slots held by close stable clients, Danny and Jo Zavitsanos and Summit Bloodstock/Aaron Bain Racing.

“If anything, things have got more confusing after (last) Saturday night,” Stewart said. “Miki To Success went incredibly well winning at Menangle and showed he was right back to his best, maybe better than ever.

“He’s got to be right in the mix after that, but Go Miki won really well at Melton the same night and Fox Dan and War Dan Buddy both won impressively at Melton the previous week.

“We’ve made no decisions and aren’t in a rush to. We’ll run Fox Dan and War Dan Buddy again this Saturday night to give them another chance.

“It’s a good position to be in and we don’t have to rush into anything.”

Miki To Success, who did all the work and thrashed his rivals in scorching time at Menangle, crunched in from $20 to $8 in TAB Eureka markets.

Stewart’s depth of options is even more incredible when you consider two of her biggest TAB Eureka contenders, Always Hot and Very Pretty, are sidelined with injury.

Bay Of Biscay remains an easing ($3.50 to $3.60) TAB Eureka favourite despite tiring in the last few strides after doing the work when fourth at Melton last Saturday night.

The four-year-old was only beaten 2.9m in a hot race, but fellow major TAB Eureka contender Fighter Command (second) did beat him home.

Stewart is considering backing-up Bay Of Biscay again this week, which would mean the TAB Eureka would be his third start in as many weeks.

“It’s an option. We’ll see how he is and look at where he could race, if we go that way,” she said.

“It’s frustrating the options aren’t great for him here (Victoria), so we may have to look at Menangle if we think he needs to race again.”

Fox Dan and War Dan Buddy are likely to race at Melton, while Miki To Success will rest on his laurels after the stunning Racenet Discovery win.

“It’s all hotting up now,” Summit Bloodstock’s Jamie Durnberger-Smith said. “You know how closely we work with Emma and Clayton on these slots. We’ve got lots of great options and will be guided by them (Emma and Clayton).