by Adam Hamilton

What a dramatic race to the wire we have to decide the field for the world’s richest harness race, the $2.1 million (AUD) TAB Eureka, let alone the race itself.

When the TAB Eureka was launched almost two years ago, it came with an aim to drive conversation and publicity around the race itself and the sport “24/7 and 365 days a year.”

That’s an ambitious stretch, but there is no disputing it drives more discussion and debate than any other race Down Under.

It was way back on Feb. 13 – almost seven months before the TAB Eureka was scheduled for Sept. 7 – when the first slot holder confirmed its entrant when Rob Watson used his Soho Standardbreds slot to lock-in emerging star Never Ending.

It was an all-Western Australian affair with Never Ending trained and owned in WA and Watson based there, too.

Watson’s choice has proven inspired with Never Ending’s continued development seeing him grab outright favouritism for the TAB Eureka despite never having raced outside of his home state.

Prentice has moved to mitigate that by bringing Never Ending across from Perth to Sydney more than three weeks before the race.

“He’s settled in well. He’ll have had two looks [workouts] at Menangle before a lead-up race [on Aug. 24], so we’re leaving no stone unturned,” he said.

In contrast, the prize “catch” for slot holders was widely considered to be Jason Grimson’s Chariots Of Fire winner Frankie Ferocious. He was a clear favorite for a long time.

His connections fielded many calls from prospective slot owners, but eventually settled on a deal with wagering operator and Eureka naming rights sponsor, TAB.

As can happen, it quickly turned to custard.

Frankie Ferocious failed in three Queensland starts through July and subsequently was ruled out of the TAB Eureka when vets found he needed throat surgery for a breathing issue.

Now, just days out from the race, TAB is still in the market for a replacement.

In an unexpected and innovative twist, TAB revealed on Friday it would use a lead-up race a week before the TAB Eureka — the Racenet Discovery Stakes — to choose its slot entry.

It adds another layer of intrigue and will be welcomed by an array of owners and trainers as a “last chance” opportunity to push their case for a slot.

It should also be a terrific contest given the depth of talent sure to be jostling for that last ticket in.

TAB is one of two, possibly three, slot owners who have had to move to a “Plan B” from their original slot runner.

Wayne Loader moved early to secure Australia’s emerging talent, Extreme Sea, for his “Western Jewel” slot. It looked an inspired choice as he strung together some stunning feature wins by huge margins and in sparkling times.

Just when Extreme Sea was vying for favouritism, injury struck and he was relegated to the sidelines and ruled out of the TAB Eureka.

Loader has since iced a new deal with one of Australia’s top race mares, Eye Keep Smiling.

Now the spotlight is firmly on multiple Group 1 winner The Lost Storm, who ran seventh in the race last year as a 3-year-old and was locked-in by Aaron Bain Racing and Summit Bloodstock in the hope he would be bigger and stronger this time.

But The Lost Storm is struggling. Big time.

Flops at his two most recent Melton races will surely have Bain and Summit on the hunt for a replacement.

Bain and Summit are ingrained with the powerhouse Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin, who train The Lost Storm. If and/or when they swap runners, it will be to a stablemate.

One of the most logical options for their “Plan B” is gone with star mare Major Delight – a winner of 21 of her 26 starts – being locked into the Team Zav slot of Danny and Jo Zavitsanos last week.

She became the second confirmed mare in the field.

Both have strong connections to Encipher, the mare who caused an upset to win last year’s inaugural TAB Eureka.

Encipher was trained by Stewart and Tonkin, who have Major Delight, and driven by Luke McCarthy, who trains and drives Eye Keep Smiling.

Stewart and Tonkin will have multiple runners again this year after having Encipher and The Lost Storm last year.

Although Major Delight is the only absolute definite now, they have the likes of emerging 3-year-old Bay Of Biscay and underrated Perfect Class looming ominously.

Should The Lost Storm drop out, one or both of Bay Of Biscay and Perfect Class would very likely get berths.

To be clear, only two slots still officially remain, those of TAB as outlined, along with leviathan Queensland owners Kevin and Kay Seymour, who had their own megastar Leap To Fame run second in their slot last year.

The 5-year-old Leap To Fame is too old to compete again with the TAB Eureka restricted to only 3- and 4-year-old Australian-bred pacers.

Other confirmed slot entrants are: Captains Knock (Cordina Racing), Don Hugo (slot holder: John Singleton); Free Thinker (Racing Queensland), Fighter Command (Tasracing).

Fighter Command is the only confirmed 3-year-old runner, but Bay Of Biscay, who boasts seconds in the NSW and Queensland Derbys at Group 1 level, will likely get a berth, too.

Last year’s two 3-year-old starters didn’t have any influence, finishing seventh (The Lost Storm) and ninth (Captain Hammerhead) respectively.

It sparked debate over whether it was too big an ask on a 3-year-old. Should the race be changed to 4- and 5-year-olds?

It was addressed, at least in part by organisers, by shortening the distance from 2400m to 2300m. The key to that is the 2300m starting point gives inside posts a much better advantage and, under the preferential post draw conditions, the 3-year-olds will draw posts 1 and 2.

Fighter Command’s co-trainer and driver Greg Sugars also made a worthy point.

“Last year’s TAB Eureka was super strong. The 4-year-old crop was amazing,” he said. “It looks a lot more open and even this year, so we’re happy to have a  crack with a 3-year-old, especially with the barrier advantage and for that sort of money.”

Should the 3-year-olds be humbled again, the calls will really grow to change it to a 4- and 5-year-old race.

If talkability is a key KPI, then the TAB Eureka is certainly delivering.

Now we just need a race night crowd and contest befitting of the build-up and prize money on offer at Menangle on Sept. 7.