TAB Eureka Countdown is On

As part of countdown series until the inaugural running of the $2.1mil TAB Eureka, ADAM HAMILTON will update the key happenings around the world’s richest harness race each week.

MIRACLE Mile winner and key TAB Eureka contender Catch A Wave will make his public return tomorrow (Tuesday).

Trainer Andy Gath confirmed his stable star would tackle a Melton trial before he picked out a return race for the brilliant son of Captaintreacherous.

“He’s been ready to go for a while, but we’ve just been ticking him along,” he said. “He’ll have this trial and then we’ll look for a race in the fortnight or so after it.

“We’re really happy with how he’s come back. He spelled well, has certainly filled out and has been terrific around home.”

Catch A Wave became the first pacer since Have Faith In Me in 2016 to complete the huge Chariots Of Fire/Miracle Mile double earlier this year.

He burst into TAB Eureka favouritism off the back of the victories, but Queensland star Leap To Fame’s recent heroics have seen him snatch favouritism.

Gath has long been a huge admirer of Leap To Fame and said this after watching him thrash his rivals in last Saturday night’s $350,000 Group 1 Rising Sun at Albion Park:

“His arrogance to still hit the line strongly was amazing. He’s going to be very hard to beat and we’ve got huge respect for him. We’re just lucky to have one of few horses who could possibly beat him if things went right.”

Leap To Fame is a $2.20 favourite from Catch A Wave ($3.50), Captain Ravishing ($5) and The Lost Storm ($8).

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TRAINER-DRIVER Grant Dixon will decide today (Monday) whether Leap To Fame backs up in Saturday night’s $200,000 Group 1 Sunshine Sprint at Albion Park.

The other option is to wait and go straight to Queensland’s biggest race, the $400,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake a week later.’

“I’ll leave it up to Grant, he’s pulled every right rein with the horse so far,” owner Kevin Seymour said.

Leap To Fame will have a freshen-up after the Blacks A Fake before targeting the TAB Eureka.

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AUSTRALIA’S best three-year-old The Lost Storm brings the X-Factor to the TAB Eureka.

His Group 1 Vicbred final was as good as you’d ever see a two-year-old go and he resumed from a long spell with an arrogant win at Bendigo last Saturday night.

It’s no secret trainers Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin and owner-breeder Justin Baker have a massive opinion of him.

It’s now expected The Lost Storm will make a hit-and-run raid on the Queensland Constellations for the Queensland Derby on July 22.

That will be one of another three runs mapped-out for the brilliant young pacer before the TAB Eureka.

“Emma and Clayton are happy to do the rest of lead-up racing in Victoria and not worry about a run at Menangle before the Eureka,” Baker said.

The Lost Storm, being a three-year-old, will get a crucial preferential barrier draw advantage over his key four-year-old rivals in the TAB Eureka.

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ANYONE spotted the last two runs of much-improved Victorian pacer Cobber in Queensland?

You can bet at least one of the remaining slot holders will be keen on talking with trainer Geoff Webster after his slashing dead-heat for fifth behind Leap To Fame in the Group 1 Rising Sun last Saturday night.

In a race where they ran home in 54.2 and 26.8sec, Cobber grew wings from a clear last to finish 1.8m from runner-up Rocknroll Hammer.

“He’s absolutely flying and I can’t see many better options for those still in the hunt for a runner to go in their slot,” caretaker trainer and driver Anthony Butt said.

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STILL five slots remain to be filled in TAB Eureka.

Two of those, Racing Queensland and Tasracing, will be filled by the winner of dedicated races in those states.

The $231,000 The Hayden, named after champion Queensland cricketer Matthew Hayden, will be run at Albion Park on Saturday night.

In Tasmania, the qualifier is the appropriately-named $80,000 The Beautide – named after Tassie bred and owned dual Inter Dominion winner Beautide – will be run in Hobart on August 5.

So, the actual remaining slots are: Aaron Bain Racing and Summit Bloodstock; John Singleton and Western Jewel (Wayne Loader).