Harness racing: Raw talent High Above has trailblazers in his corner for TAB Eureka quest

High Above will be out to protect his unbeaten record as he becomes the least experienced horse to contest a TAB Eureka.

Kerryn Manning and High Above will combine in Saturday's $2.1m TAB Eureka at Menangle. Picture: Stuart McCormick

High Above will be the least experienced horse to contest a TAB Eureka, but he has X-factor in every corner.

Not only does he ooze talent and potential, but he’s got the two females who have most changed the landscape of Australian harness racing, Kerryn Manning and Emma Stewart, guiding him.

Manning, a global trailblazer for females in harness racing, will be out to protect an unbeaten record on High Above – four wins from as many drives – in Saturday night’s $2.1m feature at Menangle.

Stewart is not only the dominant training force of Australia, but also trained Encipher to defy the odds as a $23 shot to win last year’s inaugural TAB Eureka.

The Stewart and Manning connection goes back 22 years to when Stewart worked for Manning’s father, Peter.

Manning drove Stewart’s first horse, Katies Secret, to her first two wins.

Stewart has gone on to train over 3200 winners, 128 at Group 1 level, and dominate the Victoria training premierships.

Manning has driven almost 4300 winners, including 41 Group 1s, and was the first female driver to win the iconic NZ Cup (Arden Rooney in 2015) and only the second female to win a Group 1 in Europe (Knight Pistol in 1997).

So, it’s no surprise Stewart turned to Manning when the raw, quirky and gangly High Above needed some race day assistance.

“He’s come a long way and quickly, really in the past few weeks. It wasn’t long ago he was all legs and felt like I was driving a two-year-old, not a four-year-old. I told someone it felt like driving a rubber band,” Manning said.

“He was like a different horse when he won last Friday … it’s the best racehorse he’s been by a long way. He felt like the penny had dropped and he won well in quick time, with me being pretty kind to him late.

“A month ago I hadn’t even thought about the Eureka with him, it felt like it was a year too early for him, so it’s come out of the blue a bit. I’m hurriedly getting up to speed on the rivals.

“I know it’s a big step-up for him, but he’s got the ability. It’s such a massive opportunity, I said to myself I’d be crazy not to go and be part of it.

“I’m stoked to keep the drive on him, he’s such a talent.”

High Above is one a record TAB Eureka runners Stewart has on Saturday.

The others are star mare Major Delight and exciting three-year-old Bay Of Biscay.

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

Originally published as Harness racing: Raw talent High Above has trailblazers in his corner for TAB Eureka quest