Classy four-year-old Fox Dan will try to replicate his stablemate Bay Of Biscay when he tackles the world’s richest pacing race, the $1.5 million TAB Eureka, for a second time.
Owner-breeders Danny and Jo Zavitsanos ended weeks of speculation today by confirming Fox Dan would again race in their slot at Menangle on Saturday week.
Fox Dan was a three-year-old when he ran a slashing second to Bay Of Biscay last year.
Significantly, Bay Of Biscay also ran second (to Don Hugo) in the TAB Eureka as a three-year-old in 2024 before returning last year to go one better.
“He (Fox Dan) was always our logical choice after last year, but we always want the horse with the best possible chance in our slot, so he had to prove he was back in the right sort of form,” Danny Zavitsanos said.
A few niggles have restricted Fox Dan to just 11 starts this season, but he has shown signs of his best form again with two wins and a third at his past three starts.
“We had to make a decision, so we focused on those past two runs (Swan Hill and Melton last Saturday night) as the deciders,” Zavitsanos said. “Both runs were terrific, so we’re going with him.”
Zavitsanos admitted it was hard for sentiment not to play a role with Fox Dan.
“He’s such a special horse to us on so many levels,” he said. “His mum, Jodila, is the first harness horse I ever raced. I paid $22,000 for her at the yearling sales and called her Jodila after my wife (Joanna) and we called our youngest daughter ‘Dila’.
“To see him go on and become the star he is, that’s really special.
“It would be a dream come true if he could go one better this year and win the Eureka.”
Fox Dan’s confirmation gives the powerhouse Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin stable its third confirmed runner in a race they have dominated across its three-year history.
They won the inaugural TAB Eureka in 2023 with Encipher, had second and third (Bay Of Biscay and High Above) in 2024 and landed the quinella with Bay Of Biscay and Fox Dan last year.
Their other confirmed runners this year are Victoria Oaks winner Bettor Beach and the untapped four-year-old Cigano.
Bettor Beach, the first three-year-old filly to land a slot in the Eureka’s history, capped her preparation with a sparkling Melton win last Saturday night.
Cigano made it 12 wins from 18 starts and four from five this campaign with a dazzling Menangle win last Saturday night.
With three slots still available, Stewart and Tonkin have the firepower to potentially match their record four runners in last year’s TAB Eureka.
The Last Trip looks the leading contender to land them another slot after snaring his seventh win from eight starts this campaign at Menangle last Saturday night.
At least two of the remaining slot owners are believed to have spoken with his owners.
The other confirmed runners are: Loucasso (Rampant Standardbreds), Double Lou (Tony Licastro), Soho Charmer (Soho Standardbreds), Bettor Beach (Harnesslink), Fate Awaits (Western Jewel) and Cigano (Levarg Group).
The remaining slot owners are: Cordina Racing, Kevin and Kay Seymour and Go Racing (Mick Harvey).
