The jigsaw is starting to come together.

And the inaugural $2.1mil TAB Eureka is shaping to be something special.

Last week’s inevitable confirmation Leap To Fame would race in the slot of his owners Kevin and Kay Seymour has justifiably heightened talk about the world’s richest harness race, to be run at Menangle over 2400m on September 2.

And what a sparkling return it was from Leap To Fame at Albion Park on Saturday night!

We now know how half of the field either looks or will be shaped.

Captain Ravishing (more on him soon) will run in the lone Victorian-based slot of Danny and Jo Zavitsanos’ “Team Zav”.

Catch A Wave was astutely locked-in by Cordina Racing before his Miracle Mile heroics on March 4.

And, of course, Racing Queensland and Tasracing will use qualifying races designed to support their own backyard to establish which pacer will run in their slots on September 2.

That leaves five slot holders to show their hands: John Singleton, Soho Standardbreds (Rob Watson), TAB, Summit Bloodstock/Aaron Bain Racing and Western Jewel (Wayne Loader).

Although this is certainly not just a three-horse race, the marquee acts are the big three four-year-olds – Leap To Fame, Captain Ravishing and Catch A Wave – and it’s great to have them all locked-in.

The next hottest property will be last season’s gun juvenile The Lost Storm.

You would imagine many remaining slot holders will be chasing Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin’s young gun, probably headed by TAB and Summit Bloodstock/Aaron Bain.

Surely it won’t be long until he’s locked away.

The Lost Storm, like all three-year-olds, will benefit from the preferential barrier draw conditions. The draws will be done on age and sex.

The preferential draw and the distance as so much intrigue to the TAB Eureka.

The 2400m around Menangle is a gruelling trip, especially if, as expected, the race is truly run.

We know how fast and brilliant Catch A Wave and Captain Ravishing are, but can they run out a strong 2400m?

Leap To Fame was born to run 2400m as he showed through his rampaging, triple Derby-winning three-year-old season.

Although Team Zav is the only Victorian-based slot owner, Victoria’s role in the inaugural TAB Eureka will be massive.

When the field is finalised, it wouldn’t surprise if at least four of the runners were Victorian-trained.

Perhaps the most interesting of them at the moment is Captain Ravishing, especially in light of his move back to original trainer Ahmed Taiba after some stunning performances for Stewart and Tonkin last season.

Were those Chariots Of Fire and Miracle Miles blips? Was he just below his best?

Owner Hass Taiba said all the signs were encouraging so far this preparation.

“We went right over him, had everything checked and it was thumbs up,” he said.

“He’s back in full work now and will be fast working again in a couple of weeks.

“We couldn’t be happier with him at this stage.”

Hass said an early July racetrack return was likely.

“We’re yet to lock it all down, but Ahmed’s looking at a trial here, maybe a race at Melton, too. Then he’ll go to Sydney where we definitely want to have two lead-up runs at that track before the Eureka.”

While a driver is yet to be confirmed, Hass spoke openly about the options.

“Cam Hart, Jack Trainor and Jack Callaghan are the three we’re tossing around, but we haven’t spoken to them yet,” he said.

“I’d say Cam Hart would be the front-runner at this stage.”

Trainer Andy Gath said Catch A Wave was on a similar time schedule to Captain Ravishing, but would likely do all his lead-up racing in Victoria.

“There’s no doubt he’s come back bigger, it’s really noticeable and we’re thrilled about it,” he said.

“He’s been back in work since April 15 and I’d say he’ll be at the races in late July.”

The Lost Storm is even closer to racing and is headed to an earlier showdown with Leap To Fame in the Group 1 Rising Sun at Albion Park on July 8. He’ll then chase the Queensland Derby before the TAB Eureka.

The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.