QUEENSLAND pacing sensation Leap To Fame’s stranglehold on $2.1mil TAB Eureka favouritism eased slightly after drawing wide when the barriers were revealed today.

But it certainly hasn’t fazed his trainer-driver Grant Dixon, who quickly declared “there’s no way I’d swap him for anything else in the race.”

Watch the TAB Eureka Barrier Reveal

BRILLIANT pacer Catch A Wave is unbeaten in major races, and a sparkling Melton trial today (Tuesday) has him primed for his biggest challenge yet in Saturday night’s $2.1mil TAB Eureka at Menangle

It’s an understatement when trainer Andy Gath says he has a history of “peaking Catch A Wave for the big ones,” given he’s contested five Group 1 races and won the lot, the most recent two at Menangle in the Miracle Mile and Chariots Of Fire.

TAB EUREKA UPDATE - AUGUST 27

TAB Eureka favourite Leap To Fame was due at Robbie Morris’ stables next to Menangle last night (Sunday).

Trainer-driver Grant Dixon said the pacing sensation had enjoyed “a really good week” at home.

TRAINER Ahmed Taiba believes Captain Ravishing’s TAB Eureka campaign is back on song after a strong Menangle workout this morning.“

We’re back on track. He ran right through the line today and felt sharp late,” Taiba said.

TWO stars of the TAB Eureka will light-up Ballarat tomorrow morning.

Local trainers Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin will take Queensland Derby winner The Lost Storm and high-class mare Encipher to Bray Raceway for a private trial.

GIFTED pacer Captain Ravishing’s TAB Eureka quest is in serious doubt after a horror Menangle trial today.

It prompted frustrated trainer Ahmed Taiba to say another Menangle workout on Saturday would decide if gifted pacer Captain Ravishing actually runs in the $2.1mil TAB Eureka on Saturday week.

Dual Inter Dominion-winning trainer Jason Grimson has emerged the late secret weapon in forgotten star Captain Ravishing’s quest to the $2.1mil TAB Eureka.

VICTORIAN David Moran has won a Chariots Of Fire, but he’s still got a few demons to exorcise at Menangle.

And now he’s got the chance to do so in the world’s richest harness race.

Moran’s exciting three-year-old Captain Hammerhead forced his way into Saturday week’s TAB Eureka with a dominant win in the inaugural $50,000 The Singo at Menangle last night.

It was more than enough to snare him the John Singleton slot, the last of the 10 spots available.

THE mystery horse of the $2.1mil TAB Eureka is on his way to Sydney.

Powerhouse four-year-old Captain Ravishing headed north from Ahmed Taiba’s Sunbury stables to settle in at Menangle ahead of the September 2 feature.

Businessman John Singleton is cutting back his racing interests, but will still make a huge splash at Menangle trots on Saturday night.

Singleton has declared he will “shout the bar” for an hour between races three and five at NSW’s home of harness racing. Race three is at 6.20pm Sydney time.

“The race named after me is race three (The Singo) and I’ve told them we’ll need some think time to decide which horse from the race takes my slot in the TAB Eureka,” Singleton said.

TAKING on the best young pacers in the land won’t be the biggest challenge Ripp has faced through his short career so far.

Leviathan owner Wayne Loader today confirmed four-year-old Ripp, a horse he owns, would race in his slot in the $2.1mil TAB Eureka where he take-on the likes of Leap To Fame, Catch A Wave and others at Menangle on September 2.

Ripp will be an outsider in such elite company, but the powerful gelding is getting used to adversity.

ALL eyes will turn to Shepparton on Thursday night.

That’s where the gifted but now somewhat mysterious pacing star Captain Ravishing will have his first official trial in preparation for the TAB Eureka.

Trainer Ahmed Taiba said Captain Ravishing has recovered from a minor hoof issue after his solo Geelong workout last Friday week.

While the young stars of the sport will headline the TAB Eureka, there are some rich and passionate stories around some great harness racing families and lesser lights trying to snatch the prize, too.

Let’s have a look at them, state-by-state:

HRA CEO Andrew Kelly joins The Morning Line to talk The TAB Eureka Trophy and the latest news in the lead up to the world’s richest harness race.

Rugby league great Benji Marshall is urging everyone to join him at Club Menangle on 2 September for the inaugural running of the world’s richest harness race – the TAB Eureka.

“It’s a privilege to be an ambassador for the TAB Eureka. It’s not something I thought I’d get the opportunity to do. I do like a bit of harness racing and I’m incredibly proud that it’s being hosted for the first time here in Western Sydney, a community that has been a big part of me and where I’m from,” Benji said.

THE world's richest harness race has a trophy befitting its amazing purse.

The trophy for the $2.1mil TAB Eureka - to be run at Club Menangle on September 2 - has been unveiled. And it is spectacular.

THE resurgence of South Australian harness racing has been given another boost with star mare Encipher snaring a berth in the world’s richest harness race, the $2.1mil TAB Eureka at Menangle on September 2.

Kadina-bred and owned pacer Encipher will team with the strongly SA-connected slot holders Aaron Bain Racing and Summit Bloodstock to run in the 2400m feature.

AUSTRALIA’S top three-year-old The Lost Storm is set to continue his TAB Eureka preparation at Ballarat on Friday night.

Co-trainer Emma Stewart said the stunning young pacer had come through his easy last-start Queensland Derby win in great order.

An emerging pacer trained-and-driven by a member of the Rattray family won the inaugural running of a race named after Rattray clan’s greatest horse and one of Tasmania’s all-time best pacers, Beautide.

Just as Beautide lifted under pressure for so many of his biggest wins, four-year-old Magician did just that to win last night’s $80,000 The Beautide (2090m) in Hobart.