The field for the world’s richest harness race is complete.
Race sponsor TAB confirmed exciting three-year-old Go Miki as its slot runner in Saturday night’s $2.1m TAB Eureka at Menangle.
It gives powerhouse training couple Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin a record four of the 10 runners in their quest to win the TAB Eureka for the second time in three years. They won with Encipher in the inaugural 2023 edition.
Their other confirmed runners are last year’s runner-up Bay Of Biscay (Soho Standardbreds slot), Miki To Success (Summit Bloodstock & Aaron Bain Racing) and Fox Dan (Team Zav).
Remarkably, Go Miki’s addition means six of the 10 TAB Eureka runners will be three-year-olds. The race is restricted to three and four-year-old Aussie-bred pacers.
The previous most three-year-olds in a single year was two in 2023 when The Lost Storm ran seventh and Captain Hammerhead finished ninth.
Although Bay Of Biscay was the only three-year-old contestant last year, his luckless second placing restored confidence that his age group could be serious players in the TAB Eureka.
Go Miki will be the least experienced TAB Eureka runner with just 10 starts netting six wins and three seconds.
His biggest run was second to sidelined stablemate Always Hot in last year’s Group 1 Vicbred final at Melton. Stablemate and fellow TAB Eureka runner Fox Dan finished third.
Go Miki has returned this campaign with four wins from as many starts.
“Getting four into a race as big as this and which means as much to us is a huge thrill,” Emma Stewart said.
“Now we’ve got to set about finalising drivers for them all.”
TAB’s Head of Industry Partnerships, Brett Boyd, said: “Go Miki is an exciting colt with genuine untapped ability.
“He has now won four in a row and his recent victory at Melton was particularly impressive.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Emma, she’s been there and done it before in the TAB Eureka.
“The TAB Eureka will be broadcast worldwide on Saturday night, with more than 60 countries taking the Sky Racing feed. It has quickly grown into one of the great events in harness racing.”
The final TAB Eureka field is:
- Bay Of Biscay (Soho Standardbreds slot)
- Fighter Command (Tasracing)
- Fate Awaits (Western Jewel)
- Hesitate (John Singleton)
- Seathestars (Cordina Racing)
- Call To Order (Racing Qld)
- Miki To Success (Summit Bloodstock & Aaron Bain Racing)
- Path To Greatness (Kevin & Kay Seymour)
- Fox Dan (Team Zav)
- Go Miki (TAB)
The barrier draw will be live on Sky Racing 1 at 9am on Tuesday morning.
