Superstar mare and inaugural TAB Eureka winner Encipher will undergo emergency surgery today

The racing career of superstar pacer Encipher is almost certainly over as the inaugural TAB Eureka winner undergoes emergency surgery today.

Encipher takes out the $2.1m TAB Eureka at Menangle. Picture: Club Menangle–Hamilton Content Creators

Superstar mare and inaugural TAB Eureka winner Encipher is having emergency surgery today after breaking a pastern during her first-up win in the Group 2 Ladyship Cup at Melton last night.

Her racing career is almost certainly over and South Australian owner-breeder Tyson Linke is relying on the surgery to go well to have Encipher as a broodmare.

“As soon as I pulled-up in the back straight (after the win), I knew she’s broken down,” driver Kate Gath said.

“I love her.”
Driver Kate Gath on the Emma Stewart-trained Encipher after she produces a fighting win first up from a spell in the $75,000 Alabar Bloodstock Ladyship Cup at Melton tonight. pic.twitter.com/OpDXrwMmx2

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) January 27, 2024

“It’s devastating. She’s such a great mare and gave me so many fantastic moments. I just love her.”

Trainer Emma Stewart said Encipher was taken straight from Melton to the Ballarat veterinary clinic.

“It’s a broken pastern. They are operating this morning,” she said.

Encipher became Stewart’s first million dollar earner when she upstaged champion pacer Leap To Fame to win the TAB Eureka at Menangle on September 2.

* ENCIPHER DELIVERS BOILOVER RESULT TO WIN $2.1M EUREKA

Last night’s win was her first start this year and took her record to 18 wins, seven seconds and a third from just 30 starts. She’s banked $1,635,479.

Many hoped she would add an extra dimension to next Saturday night’s $450,000 Group 1 Hunter Cup given she’s already beaten the boys at the top level.

💫 The millionaire mare!

Encipher created history @CMTrackside tonight winning the inaugural @eurekarace stopping the clock in 1:[e-mail]/38JqjbUPzn

— Harness Racing NSW (@HRNSW_Harness) September 2, 2023

Leap To Fame confirmed he was the one to beat in the Hunter Cup when he cruised to his seventh successive win at Albion Park last night.

Pre-post markets have the recent Brisbane Inter Dominion winner a $1.60 to add the Hunter Cup to his growing CV.

Trainer-driver Grant Dixon hopes to have a second Hunter Cup runner with stablemate Tims A Trooper running a terrific second to Leap To Fame last night.

“They both went great. I’d love to run them both,” he said. “Tims A Trooper is right back to his best form.”

NSW-based Team McCarthy stablemates Spirit Of St Louis and Cantfindabettorman are Hunter Cup-bound after running second and third respectively when first-up from spells at Menangle last night.

Luke McCarthy will drive Cantfindabettorman, while Jack Callaghan will be aboard Spirit Of St Louis who will tackle his third consecutive Hunter Cup. He ran second in 2022.

Inter Dominion runner-up Better Eclipse broke through the $1 million stakemoney barrier when he narrowly beat buzz Kiwi raider Don’t Stop Dreaming in the $50,000 Casey Classic at Melton last night.

Million dollar barrier eclipsed!

Better Eclipse shows his class and courage to clinch the $50,000 ALLIED EXPRESS CASSEY CLASSIC and take his earnings to $1m - giving Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars a memorable feature double at Melton tonight.

Bring on the AG Hunter Cup! pic.twitter.com/HvIyPSQl42

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) January 27, 2024

Both horses were first-up from breaks and impressed connections in slick closing times.

Don’t Stop Dreaming is the first pacer champion Kiwi horseman Mark Purdon has campaigned himself in Victoria since 2020.

“I was thrilled with his run and he’ll take a lot out of that,” Purdon said.

“He’s still a young horse and on the rise, but I think a lot of him and expected him to very competitive against the good ones over here.”

Champion trotter Just Believe is a commanding favourite to successfully defend his Great Southern Star crown next Saturday after cruising to his seventh successive win in the Group 2 Dullard Cup at Melton last night.

“You run out of things to say about him. He’s now won over a million dollars for us and that’s pretty incredible,” driver Greg Sugars said.

Just Believe is the first Australian-bred trotter to top $1 million in earnings with last night’s win taking him to $1,011,673.

He’s one in a million.

Champion Just Believe becomes the first Australian-bred trotter to earn $1m in stakes by taking out the $50,000 VL Dullard Cup at Melton tonight.

A massive thrill for trainer Jess Tubbs and driver Greg Sugars. pic.twitter.com/F5gRjAMsiF

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) January 27, 2024

· Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.

Originally published as Superstar mare and inaugural TAB Eureka winner Encipher will undergo emergency surgery today