Kadina "Girl" Wins TAB Eureka

Encipher - Winner of the inaugural TAB Eureka. Photo by Pacepix/Club Menangle.

KADINA horseman Tyson Linke still can’t believe it happened.

Linke’s homebred mare Encipher upstaged some of the biggest names in the sport to win the world’s richest harness race, the $2.1mil TAB Eureka, at Menangle on Saturday night.

The four-year-old was bred by Linke, a hobbyist owner, breeder and trainer, from his broodmare Our Cavort and he liked her so much as a youngster he “cold called” Australia’s top trainers, Ballarat-based duo Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin, and asked if they would train her.

“I didn’t know them. I’d never met them, but I wanted to give the filly every chance and they are the best,” Linke recalled. “I was a bit surprised and thrilled when they said they’d take her.

“It was the middle of Covid and I hadn’t even broken her, but sent her across. I’ve still got photos on my phone Clayton sent of him breaking her in.”

Some 27 races and 17 wins later, Encipher ran a world record time and became the first pacer in the world to win a $2.1mil race when she gunned-down Australia’s top pacer, Queensland sensation Leap To Fame, to win the inaugural TAB Eureka.

An emotional Linke said he could barely watch the race.

“I get nervous. I walked away from the crowd, halfway up the home straight to watch by myself. I couldn’t tell if she’d won or not from where I was,” he said.

“Has this really happened? I can’t believe it. I was just thrilled to have her in the race, to be part of the first TAB Eureka.”

Remarkably, Encipher only gained a start when another SA-bred and owned pacer, Cobber, succumbed to injury.

The strongly SA-connected slot owners Aaron Bain Racing & Summit Bloodstock quickly switched to Encipher when they needed a replacement.

“This race has brought the whole country together and, for us, SA having a bit part in it was very important,” Aaron Bain said. “To win it with Tyson and a mare he bred at home (Kadina) and who has won feature races in Adelaide as well … it’s just so special.”

·       Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.