By Adam Hamilton
The big guns will start side-by-side in the world’s richest harness race in Sydney on Saturday night.
In a lovely twist in today’s barrier draw, Leap To Fame (gate 13), Catch A Wave (12) and Captain Ravishing (11) drew out wide together.
Importantly, all four emergencies are drawn inside them meaning they will start from nine, eight and seven respectively. All 10 runners start from the front row in the $2.1mil TAB Eureka over 2400m at Menangle on Saturday night.
The preferential barrier draw conditions meant the two confirmed three-year-old starters – Captain Hammerhead and The Lost Storm – will start from gates one and two respectively.
And the lone four-year-old mare, Encipher, will start from barrier three.
Leap To Fame’s trainer-driver Grant Dixon wasn’t fazed by drawing second from the outside.
“We never seem to have much luck with draws, so we’re used to it now,” he said.
“It’s more important to me he keeps having a really good week here (Menangle) and he’ll run a great race.
“It’s 2400m, so the draw isn’t as important as it would be over a mile.
“He’s settled in well since we got here late Sunday. He had the hopples on yesterday with Tims A Trooper, but they didn’t do much.
“He was right where I wanted him when we left home, so it’s just keeping him ticking over now.
“I wouldn’t swap for anything else. I know others would say the same about their horse, but he’s in a great place and this is the race we’ve really set him for.”
Trainer Andy Gath also wasn’t too fussed with Catch A Wave’s wide draw.
“We knew we couldn’t draw really well with the preferential draw. It’s not too bad. At least we’re inside Leap To Fame and we’re keen to stay in front of him to give us options,” he said.
The TAB Eureka Barrier Draw :
1. Captain Hammerhead
2. Naturally Gifted (emergency)
3. Don Hugo (emergency)
4. The Lost Storm
5. Encipher
6. Speak The Truth
7. Magician
8. Ripp
9. Tims A Trooper (emergency)
10. Heza Son Of Agun (emergency)
11. Captain Ravishing
12. Catch A Wave
13. Leap To Fame
14. My Ultimate Ronnie
