The TAB Eureka Countdown

TAB EUREKA COLUMN – JULY 24

CAN the baby of the field win the TAB Eureka?

That’s what many were asking when The Lost Storm, the only three-year-old in the race at this stage, blew his rivals away in last Saturday night’s Group 1 Queensland Derby.

The Lost Storm has won 10 of his 12 starts and co-trainer Clayton Tonkin is insistent he “wasn’t right” when beaten previously.

“He’s potentially as good as we’ve trained,” Tonkin said. “He’s still on the way up and just did it so easily tonight.

“He’s fast, but he’s very strong too.

“Coming here (Queensland) was as much about developing him and preparing him for the TAB Eureka, too.

“He’ll be better for the trip away and can go back home now where we can really prime him for Menangle.

“I’d say he’ll have another run or two before the Eureka.

“We know how hard it’ll be against those great four-year-olds, but we’ve got the barrier advantage and we think this horse is pretty special.”

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THE “Team Zav” exhibition workout at Geelong on Friday week could be a bit special.

It has gone from a bit of a pipedream for passionate Geelong-based owners Danny and Jo Zavitsanos into almost a lock and a key part of the TAB Eureka build-up for Miracle Mile winner Catch A Wave and brilliant pacer Captain Ravishing.

Connections of both pacers now have a trip to Geelong firmly in their diaries.

In fact, it is now likely to be Catch A Wave’s next public appearance after his shock first defeat by stablemate and half-brother Yambukian at Melton last Saturday night.

“If we can be confident he’ll get a solid workout there, he’ll go to Geelong next,” trainer Andy Gath said.

“Rather than another race, he could go to Geelong, have a serious hit out, and then have his final lead-up race at Melton two weeks before the TAB Eureka.”

Gath certainly wasn’t hitting any panic buttons after Catch A Wave’s defeat.

“It was deflating yes, but there is no panic here,” he said. “He did star gaze a bit at the top of the straight, but I think he just ran out of condition. He pulled-up blowing quite hard.

“He’s come back a lot bigger horse since the spell. I’d say he’s 30kgs heavier and maybe we didn’t have him as fit as we thought.

“It’s hard with horses like him because you don’t want to have them screwed down all the time, but he’s shown before we can peak him when it matters.

“We’ve got time on our side and there’s lot we can take out of a defeat. He’s bounced back before.”

Meanwhile, the anticipation continues to build around the racetrack return of Captain Ravishing.

The powerhouse four-year-old, now back with original trainer Ahmed Taiba, sharpened-up with some more fast work at Taiba’s Sunbury property last Saturday.

“He’ll fast work here again on Tuesday and then I’ll look to take him into Melton for a private trial as sorts with Greg Sugars aboard, hopefully last this week if we get onto the track,” Taiba said.

“That would fit perfectly before we take him to Geelong for the big Team Zav night on August 4 where he’ll work between races.”

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GLAMOUR pacer Leap To Fame’s first defeat this year was probably the biggest run of his career so far.

Grant Dixon’s four-year-old, the $2 TAB Eureka favourite, had to sit parked outside his half-brother and much-improved Swayzee in near track record time and went down fighting, 6.2m away in second spot.

But wait, there’s more.

Leap To Fame copped a check at the 300m where the left tyre of his sulky was punctured. The tube came out, wrapped around the wheel and seized. So, he essentially dragged that wheel like a handbrake for the home straight.

“It’s like putting a handbrake on when you’re driving a car,” Sky Racing commentator and harness driver Brittany Graham said. “It’s extraordinary he could still get so close.”

Without taking anything away from the much-improved winner, Swayzee, Leap To Fame was monstrous.

Owner Kevin Seymour took it all on the chin.

“That’s racing, I guess,” he said. “We just have to turn the page and focus on the Eureka now.

“I can’t see how he could’ve lost any admirers on what he did tonight. We’re all so proud.”

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WHEN will underrated Victorian pacer Cobber snare a TAB Eureka slot?

That’s what many good judges were asking after he smashed the clock yet again in defeat at Albion Park on Saturday night.

Champion horseman Anthony Butt has been looking after the four-year-old in Queensland for trainer Geoff Webster and is in awe of how well he’s racing.

“He’s not having much luck, but you can’t go much better than he is,” Butt said.

Cobber blasted home in a privately-time 25.6sec closing quarter for a terrific second to the high-class Cantfindabettorman in the Group 3 4YO Championship.

He beat home classy NSW pacer My Ultimate Ronnie, who already has the Soho Standardbreds TAB Eureka slot. He led and ran third.

Trainer Jarrod Alchin conceded My Ultimate Ronnie isn’t quite at his top.

“We’ve had a few small issues, but I thought he was back after he worked super last Monday. He should’ve gone better than that,” he said.

“We’ll get him back home and we’ve got enough time to get him back to his best for September 2.”

Leap To Fame’s stablemate Tims A Trooper must also be right on the radar for a TAB Eureka slot. He only ran sixth behind Cantfindabettorman, but had no luck and has been flying.

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STAR WA mare Wonderful To Fly will come to Sydney to chase a TAB Eureka slot.

Trainer-driver Shane Young will tackle the new $50,000 The Singo at Menangle on August 19.

The colorful John Singleton will use The Singo to decide his TAB Eureka slot runner, but it wont necessarily be the winner.

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TASMANIA’s build-up to the TAB Eureka continues to gather momentum.

The $80,000 Beautide will be run in Hobart on Saturday week where the winner will land Tasracing’s slot to contest the TAB Eureka.

Nominal favourite is Todd Rattray’s exciting four-year-old Magician, who passed $100,000 in earnings when he snared his ninth win from just 17 starts in the Raider Stakes at Hobart on July 16.

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STILL four slots remain in the 10-horse TAB Eureka field.

But that’s really just three slots when you factor in Tasracing’s Beautide race winner will fit its slot.

We also know the entertaining John Singleton will add his flair when the “Singo” is run at Menangle on August 19.

Singleton and his posse will pick one from the Singo field to race in his TAB Eureka slot, but it won’t necessarily be the winner.

So, that essentially leaves Aaron Bain Racing/Summit Bloodstock and Western Jewel (Wayne Loader) as the slots to fill.