the TAB Eureka

[Gammalite]

Nearly the richest race going at $2,000,000 with a cool $mill for the winner this week at the Menangle slots.

The Trainers : we have 3 from the Top stable of Emma Stewart , 2 runners from the 2nd Best Aus trainer in Luke McCarthy  , 3 Queenlanders  from the 3 very best QLD trains in Grant Dixon, Pete McMullen and Shannon Price, a local NSW Brad Hewitt and a wild Westy (from WA) the fav NEVER ENDING is running for Prentice.  

The Drivers : Emma Stewart using Cam Hart and Ashleigh Delosa (a junior 😳) and Kerryn Manning on her 3 runners. Emma always a great supporter of a lot of Lady driver's over the years as well as regular Mark Pitt in Victoria. Gary Hall Jnr (the I'm TheMightyQuinn man) drives the WA raider Never Ending.

The Owners : Horse Owners are having to go in partnership with the 'Slot' owners. you would hope they are 50-50 but you wouldn't be surprised in what sort of deals are being made. The Aaron Bain/ Summit Bloodstock slot are already bending the concept by going 'Halvies' with the Danny ZAV slot and therefore trying to get their fingers in 2 pies , like they do all year round with $1000 dollar horses around the country with penny-share $10 owners. Had a blaze of glory by having last year's Winner ENCIPHER in their slot though , defeating champ Leap To Fame with a great Luke McCarthy drive that day.   

The Start : some controversy here with the race shortened to 2300m because the 2400m start point did not give any advantage to the inside runners (the 3 year year olds ) . The race being for 3 and 4 year olds Only. what a lot of bollocks . they already get the inside draws. just some whining owner looking for an edge.

The Timing : some are grizzling because the rich Victoria Sires Stakes (I put some Heat results on another thread)  are being run over these early Spring weeks as well, disadvantaging the VIc 3 and 4 year olds preparations . (the poor jolly things 😄)  Encipher from last year had a nice EUREKA $1,000,000 collect so that was better than running against champion NZ filly AMORE VITA in the 4 year old Vic Sires Stakes anyway , Amore Vita had defeated her in the 2 and the 3 year-old Finals the 2 years previously. 

The TAB Market :  do you guys have a market there? or Entain not up to the challenge? if you have one stick it on here would be good.

The Chances : will have a look at some here during the week.  and barrier draw and comment. all comments welcome of course (like where's Grimson ?😂) 

alas the Jess Tubbs/ Greg Sugars runner is out with colic . They won the NZ slot trot with Better Believe earlier this year is some consolation I guess.

 

[Blackie]

Edited September 3 by Blackie

[Blackie]

[Blackie]

Edited September 3 by Blackie

[Gammalite]

2 hours ago, Blackie said:

thanks Blackie 👍 . the Odds sure are a little surprising 🤔 . I rate by several reasons and generally do fairly well. so lets crack this Eureka Open lol. with a First4. 

Numbers 8 , 12 and 13 are the emergencies unlikely to get a start. number 1 scratched already.

2/ BAY of BISCAY = the only 3 year old . probably too inexperienced to take on seasoned rivals?.

3/ MAJOR DELIGHT = well drawn with Junior driver. but she has won on this horse twice recently at Menangle driving her well so quite a strong chance. has Won 6 of her 8 starts at Menangle. 

4/ EYE KEEP SMILING = well drawn for champion Menangle trainer Luke McCarthy . Luke knows every inch of Menangle and won this race last year. Horse beat Major Delight to win the NSW Sires Stakes here so might have the edge on her. Also won the Big Group 1 mares races in Brisbane defeating the highly rated NZer Aardie's Express in fast time in July. sure to go close.

5/ SURE THING CAPTAIN   6/ WISPER A SECRET  and  7/ FREE THINKER 

the 3 Queenslanders with good form in home state. A LOT harder here and the drivers Sanderson, Pete McMullen and Dixon don't drive their best races here either. risking them in this. They might be a couple of seconds slower than some rivals too. (which turns into about 20m distance behind) 

9/ HIGH ABOVE a very good Emma Stewart runner. good tough win last week and Kerryn has 4 out of 4 wins driving him. probably too inexperienced with just 9 race starts?

10/ DON HUGO  Luke's other runner. strong staying effort last start plus some very quick Menangle wins under 1.50 to his credit. must be a chance.

11/ CAPTAINS KNOCK has been unplaced all 6 runs this year when racing further than 1700m. that would suggest is NO Chance in this race. 

14/ NEVER ENDING quite a tough bugger racing over distance in the west quite often . so is more of a stayer than a speed horse like a lot of the good kiwi's. Hall Jnr not the worst driver to have and has won big races everywhere. Barrier draw gets him back a bit ? and working hard ? 

 

the Gammalite F4 then is  Eye Keep Smiling at 10-1 a special ,   from Major Delight 7-1 in 2nd from the nice barriers.   and with the star driver. and Big race trainers too.

with Don Hugo and Never Ending fighting out 3rd and 4th. Eureka to that 🍻😎

[TAB For Ever]

Well Gamma , a big Aussie race coming up with many names I haven't heard of...you'd Better Believe that ,or rather Just Believe !

At this time of year all eyes turn to spring racing in NZ and the lead up to the NZ Trotting Cup.

It was NZ's biggest wagering day until 2024 Karaka day attracted James McDonald and Blake Shinn etc involved in $million races.

Of course Melbourne Cup day easily the biggest day on NZ TAB.

So no offence but this Eureka race hasn't reached the Kiwi mindset yet !

No Archimedes moments here !

 

[Gammalite]

1 hour ago, TAB For Ever said:

So no offence but this Eureka race hasn't reached the Kiwi mindset yet !

It's the richest race in the world for harness racing. so I do realize without NZ involvement the interest would be weak . but ever hopeful, tried to stir a tiny interest for harness racing fans.

a bit like ignoring the Cox plate if you're a racing fans lol.

The Nz slot race is Better ! the race by Grins getting great runners from our 2 countries and not restricted to 3 and 4 year olds like the Eureka.

Just Believe winning the Slot trot and Rowe Cup double. and the last 2 Interdominions. seems strange to Not have top notch NZ trotters after decades of dominance. 'Sundee's Son' and 'Muscle Mountain' Not going to Australia to race did a bit of damage. the 'Aura' is gone. 

and now the Aussie Pacers are taking over. Grimson with the last NZ Cup win, Sugars won the Auckland Cup , Dixon will win this years Cup with the Interdominion Champion. Not many Nz horses even good enough to tackle the Interdominion these days. the end of it's great history could be near. Slot races are easier money. 

Could be Years before Nz win aNZ Cup or Interdominion again? especially with the top of the tree Mark and Nat  (Allstars) sort of scaled right back. 

NZ harness racing Feature races could be in real dire straits ?. 

[TAB For Ever]

Gamma,

IMO these slot races being used to increase promotion/marketing in Harness, and hopefully attract some NEW monied people to the industry.

It fast becoming totally evolving around the Christchurch area ,even  big Northern owners sending their young horses South to race much earlier than previous. And NZ harness relying on the same few people to breed the horses, race the horses and buy the slots etc and sponsor races ! Currently few new entrants , other than the biggie Entain of course.

Meanwhile the middle intermediate/high potential horses continue to be sold . 

[the galah]

gammalite,talking things NSW,i see in the last month or so cameron fitzpatrick is back driving after 9 years disqualified  for particpating in that no swabbing green light scandel. His original application was turned down but then he won on appeal.

Then greg bennett did the same thing,appealed the decision not to let him back, but in his case the same judge decided the cases were different and wasn't satisfied bennett had shown a change in circumstances anyway.Apparently the nsw integrity unit still want his phone records from 13 years ago years ago,but at the time he said he lost it and was still sticking to that story.

It not sure what that all means. Harness racing hard to shake perhaps.

Edited September 5 by the galah

[Gammalite]

15 hours ago, the galah said:

gammalite,talking things NSW,i see in the last month or so cameron fitzpatrick is back driving after 9 years disqualified  for particpating in that no swabbing green light scandel. His original application was turned down but then he won on appeal.

Then greg bennett did the same thing,appealed the decision not to let him back, but in his case the same judge decided the cases were different and wasn't satisfied bennett had shown a change in circumstances anyway.Apparently the nsw integrity unit still want his phone records from 13 years ago years ago,but at the time he said he lost it and was still sticking to that story.

It not sure what that all means. Harness racing hard to shake perhaps.

yes that was a very 'unusual circumstance. An 'officiating Steward was warned off for life 😂, for being in the know of what horses to swab (and which ones Not to, at country NSW meets ) Cameron a very good driver at the time from quite a famous family. they had a rare grey horse called LOMBO POCKET WATCH that won millions about 15 years ago. think it set near the Australian record for consecutive wins . Wonder if they were swabbing it ? 😋 (tongue in cheek).

 Blake Fitzpatrick still been going at Menangle many years now and a 'trotter' specialist mainly, They're a bit like the Williamson Family over there with their exploits and success.

Greg Bennett was like Blair Orange , the states leading reinsman. He must of done more devious things to not be relicensed after serving his time I spose. I thought it was 7 years he got around 2013, so must be having trouble getting back in as you say.

Hey !  as a Bird lover Mr Galah, you would love the beautiful Kookies that come round here each morning . They perch up on an aerial (here's my neighbours just now at 6am) and let rip with some great song. There was 2 pairs of Kookaburras for a long time,  but one got hit by a car during a low swoop near the near-by bushland in June. I took his body off the road (wasn't me that hit it , I was just going past and saw him ) and then I burst out crying for some reason. was just such a sad moment 😭.  Cars do so much damage too wild life around Australia (and no doubt NZ as well) it's just sickening. 

Anyway 2 months on from that,  the one who lost his mate is still hanging around with the other couple for company. the song is down one beat , but the 3 sure make a Big Noise still. fantastic.

 

[the galah]

4 hours ago, Gammalite said:

yes that was a very 'unusual circumstance. An 'officiating Steward was warned off for life 😂, for being in the know of what horses to swab (and which ones Not to, at country NSW meets ) Cameron a very good driver at the time from quite a famous family. they had a rare grey horse called LOMBO POCKET WATCH that won millions about 15 years ago. think it set near the Australian record for consecutive wins . Wonder if they were swabbing it ? 😋 (tongue in cheek).

 Blake Fitzpatrick still been going at Menangle many years now and a 'trotter' specialist mainly, They're a bit like the Williamson Family over there with their exploits and success.

Greg Bennett was like Blair Orange , the states leading reinsman. He must of done more devious things to not be relicensed after serving his time I spose. I thought it was 7 years he got around 2013, so must be having trouble getting back in as you say.

Hey !  as a Bird lover Mr Galah, you would love the beautiful Kookies that come round here each morning . They perch up on an aerial (here's my neighbours just now at 6am) and let rip with some great song. There was 2 pairs of Kookaburras for a long time,  but one got hit by a car during a low swoop near the near-by bushland in June. I took his body off the road (wasn't me that hit it , I was just going past and saw him ) and then I burst out crying for some reason. was just such a sad moment 😭.  Cars do so much damage too wild life around Australia (and no doubt NZ as well) it's just sickening. 

Anyway 2 months on from that,  the one who lost his mate is still hanging around with the other couple for company. the song is down one beat , but the 3 sure make a Big Noise still. fantastic.

 

great you getting to appreciate that. I guess thats part of why they call australia the lucky country. Loved your story about the kookaburra. 

Edited September 6 by the galah

[Gammalite]

The TAB Eureka is run and Won.

The leading stables in the country to the fore, with Luke McCarthy training and driving the winner as I predicted. He had jumped onto DON HUGO . an impressive winner. and picks up a cool $million dollars in less than 2 minutes ! great stuff. helps Harness racing Live on !  

Stable-mate EYE KEEP SMILING (driven well by Sugars)  running a solid  5th.

The Emma Stewart trained runners finishing 2nd and 3rd and 6th . A mighty return.  a fabulous training efforts . (Adding on to training the winner last year Encipher that beat LEAP TO FAME at 25-1 odds)  a great training effort when not in home state.

and finally a quick shout out to Queenslands best as well , Pete McMullen a close up 4th at the end of the Eureka with Wisper A Secret. picks up 100k and gave it a great shake for a minute. 

 

Congrats to the Champions of Eureka 2024  Don Hugo and Luke McCarthy . 

 

[the galah]

23 hours ago, Gammalite said:

The TAB Eureka is run and Won.

The leading stables in the country to the fore, with Luke McCarthy training and driving the winner as I predicted. He had jumped onto DON HUGO . an impressive winner. and picks up a cool $million dollars in less than 2 minutes ! great stuff. helps Harness racing Live on !  

Stable-mate EYE KEEP SMILING (driven well by Sugars)  running a solid  5th.

The Emma Stewart trained runners finishing 2nd and 3rd and 6th . A mighty return.  a fabulous training efforts . (Adding on to training the winner last year Encipher that beat LEAP TO FAME at 25-1 odds)  a great training effort when not in home state.

and finally a quick shout out to Queenslands best as well , Pete McMullen a close up 4th at the end of the Eureka with Wisper A Secret. picks up 100k and gave it a great shake for a minute. 

 

Congrats to the Champions of Eureka 2024  Don Hugo and Luke McCarthy . 

 

The eureka was an interesting race but really wasn't over exciting to watch. 

Luke mccarthy was allowed to dictate a slow pace with only k manning making a move from the back mid race.They only went the 800m from the mile to 800m in 59.5 which seems slow for menangle.

the favorite never ending did come home fast and looked like he would have been a winning chance had he followed k manning around when she made her move on the slow pace with a mile to go. But g hall had said pre race he was going to come with one run which sort of meant he didn't have the confidence in his horse to warrant a move,which seemed surprising given he was the favorite.

In the end mccarthy and manning just out drove those at the back and there horses took advantage of their drivers top tactics.

I thought the first race was a good spectacle and the sky close up coverage of that race was good viewing. Early moves then a fast late finish from loyalist to come from last and win by a nose. Shame that wasn't the eureka race as people watching that would have seen the excitement harness racing can provide.