One of the biggest events on the sporting calendar makes its debut tomorrow night at Club Menangle.
A big crowd is expected to witness the first ever $2.1 million TAB Eureka, the world’s richest harness pacing race – essentially the sport’s grand final.
Club Menangle is already the major harness racing venue in Sydney and NSW, but the Eureka is set to really put it on the sporting map.
The inaugural running of the Eureka will be complemented by a blockbuster post-event concert by multiple ARIA award-winning band Birds of Tokyo.
Highly acclaimed vocalist Ricki-Lee Coulter will perform the national anthem.
Event ambassador Grace Hayden will be judging the Fashions on the Field competition, while Wests Tigers legend and incoming NRL coach Benji Marshall will deliver The TAB Eureka trophy ahead of the feature race.
Both Marshall and Ms Hayden (pictured above) were present at the barrier draw at Circular Quay on Wednesday morning.
As a result of the barrier draw, the stranglehold on favouritism by Queensland pacing sensation Leap to Fame eased slightly after it drew wide.
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.”
Leap To Fame, who boasts 23 wins from just 30 starts and almost $1 million in prize money, eased from as short as $1.60 to $1.80 after drawing barrier 13.
He will start from gate nine if the four emergencies drawn inside him don’t gain a start.
All 10 runners will start from the front row at Menangle on Saturday night, meaning Leap to Fame will be second from the outside.
“He never seems to have much luck with draws, so we’re quite used to them now,” Dixon said.
“He’s really settled in well here (Menangle) since arriving on Sunday. He had a hopple (workout) with Tims a Trooper yesterday, nothing serious, just to keep them both up to the mark.
“As long as he has a good rest of the week, I’ve got him where I want him and I’m sure he’ll run a great race.”
Dixon didn’t hesitate to label Miracle Mile winner Catch a Wave and exciting three-year-old The Lost Storm as the hardest to beat.
“Catch a Wave is fast and very good. He’s won a Miracle Mile at this (Menangle) track, so he’s the obvious, but The Lost Storm is very exciting and couldn’t have done any more.”
Captain Ravishing’s trainer Ahmed Taiba was pleased with the four-year-old’s Menangle private trial win on the same day as the barrier draw.
“It’s been a good few days, and we needed them,” he said.
“His work was terrific, and we feel back on track and now we’ve drawn quite well, certainly inside Leap to Fame and Catch a Wave. We feel like we’re in it with a chance now.”
The lone mare in the race, the Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin-trained Encipher, will start from gate three after the emergencies come out because she’s a preferential draw as a mare.
The biggest winner from the key part of the draw – where all the four-year-old boys drew – is emerging Queensland pacer Speak the Truth, who landed gate six and will start from four.
SNAPSHOT: THE 2023 TAB EUREKA
Where: Club Menangle
When: Saturday, September 2
Prizemoney: $2.1 million
Distance: 2400 metres
Eligibility: For 10 Australian-bred and born pacers aged three and four.
The field:
Catch a Wave (Cordina Racing)
Captain Ravishing (Team Zav)
Leap to Fame (Kevin and Kay Seymour)
My Ultimate Ronnie (Soho Standardbreds)
The Lost Storm (TAB)
Speak the Truth (Racing Queensland)
Encipher (Aaron Bain Racing & Summit Bloodstock)
Magician (Tas Racing)
Captain Hammerhead (John Singleton)
Ripp (Western Jewel)
Entry: free to the event, however pre-registration is required; for all hospitality and ticketing visit www.clubmenangle.com.au
