Queensland pacer Sure Thing Captain booked a place in the TAB Eureka with a slashing win in the Racenet Discovery at Menangle
The final piece of the TAB Eureka puzzle has been solved with Sure Thing Captain booking a place in the world’s richest harness racing with victory in the Racenet Discovery at Menangle on Saturday night.
Queensland star Sure Thing Captain has secured the final place in the $2.1 million TAB Eureka with a stunning all-the-way victory in the Racenet Discovery (2300m) at Menangle on Saturday night.
Winner of The Stockade, the consolation of the TAB Eureka last year, Sure Thing Captain will now return to Menangle on TAB Eureka night in 2024 but this time to take his place in the world’s richest harness race.
And on the strength of his emphatic Racenet Discovery success, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with.
Trained by Shannon Price and driven by Adam Sanderson, Sure Thing Captain ran out a comfortable winner to maintain an insatiable stretch of recent form by the four-year-old star.
Two months ago, Price thought Sure Thing Captain’s TAB Eureka dream was over, sidelined after developing an ulcer in his throat that was impacting his breathing that required surgery.
But with race sponsor TAB electing to use the Racenet Discovery to decide which horse would represent its slot after prior selection Frankie Ferocious went by the wayside, the door for a berth was left ajar with Price’s star pacer bursting the door down on Saturday night.
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“It was a unique approach for TAB to decide on our runner this way, but it has certainly made for another outstanding night at Menangle with that little bit extra on the line,” said TAB’s Head of Racing Industry Partnerships, Brett Boyd.
“With our team meeting directly after the Racenet Discovery Stakes we were really hoping our runner essentially picked themself with their performance, and that’s what we’ve seen with Sure Thing Captain.
“While it was a hotly contested showdown as expected, we’re confident that Sure Thing Captain’s form stacks up and the performance can be replicated next week in the TAB Eureka, which is shaping as another huge night for the code.”
Following Saturday night’s Racenet Discovery victory, Sure Thing Captain was installed a $5 equal second favourite with Don Hugo.
Holding down favouritism at $2.50 is WA star Never Ending which caught the eye with a blistering second to Major Moth last weekend.
Earlier on Saturday, it was revealed untapped young pacer High Above would contest the TAB Eureka at just his tenth race start.
Slot holders Aaron Bain Racing & Summit Bloodstock were so impressed with the four-year-old’s Melton win on Friday night that they quickly snapped-up the younger half-brother of freakish pacer Ride High.
The all important barrier draw for the TAB Eureka will be staged at a function in Sydney on Monday, commencing at 11.30am.
TAB Eureka
TAB Fixed Odds
$2.50 Never Ending
$5 Don Hugo
Sure Thing Captain
$8 Fighter Command
Major Delight
$14 Eye Keep Smiling
High Above
$21+ Others quoted
Originally published as Queensland pacer Sure Thing Captain booked a place in the TAB Eureka with a slashing win in the Racenet Discovery at Menangle
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