The stunning success of the TAB Eureka has created a wonderful and immediate opportunity for Victoria.

Next month’s Group 1 Victoria Cup has all the makings of an epic race and could not have fallen at a better time.

Eyeballs are back on harness racing thanks to the Eureka and there is no doubt the Victoria Cup on October 14 at Melton will have an even stronger field.

Whether TAB Eureka winner Encipher runs or drops back to race her own sex is yet to be decided, but regardless, have a look at this list of likely runners: Leap To Fame, Catch A Wave, Rock N Roll Doo, Captain Ravishing, Honolua Bay, Spirit Of St Louis, Act Now, Better Eclipse, Mach Dan and the Kiwi raider, Kango.

That’s mouth-watering.

The field was shaping strongly enough before Luke McCarthy declared Spirit Of St Louis a definite last Friday and then owner Hass Taiba revealed a change of plans with equine headline-maker Captain Ravishing which would see him chase the Victoria Cup.

Something the Victoria Cup will have which the TAB Eureka didn’t – and
it’s a big one – is free-for-air TV coverage.

Bursting out of the “bubble” is imperative.

As was the case last year, the full Victoria Cup card (and the Hunter Cup in February), will be superbly showcased on Racing.com.

That’s even more important now with so many thoroughbred diehards either reintroduced to harness racing or taking in it for the first time due to the TAB Eureka.

And there is nothing but positives about the Victoria Cup landing smack bang in the middle of the thoroughbred Spring Carnival.

It’s actually on the same day as the Everest and stellar Caulfield Guineas meetings.

Why is that such a plus? Because such a high percentage of people who bet at all on racing are actively punting on such a huge day.

And, as a result, since the Victoria Cup was moved forward to October from late January, it has been a standout leader in the turnover stakes for Harness Racing Victoria.

It is clear HRV is moving towards making its biggest nights even bigger. Mega events if you like.

Moving the Victoria Derby and Oaks finals in recent times will see five Group 1 races on next month’s Victoria Cup program.

Importantly, both gaits will be showcased - to those on track and watching on Racing.com.

As well as three pacing Group 1’s (Victoria Cup, Derby and Oaks), the meeting will also feature the Group 1 Bills Collins Trotters Sprint and the Group 1 Victoria Trotters Oaks.

It’s the sort of jam-packed feature race meeting which made the Victoria Derby thoroughbred meeting so iconic.

It will have a delicious entrée, too.

A week before (October 7) will see the Smoken Up Sprint and heats of both the Victoria Derby and Oaks run at Melton.

All the ingredients are in place for Victoria to grab the baton from NSW and continue what is an exciting resurgence for Aussie harness racing.