Star mare Major Delight books a spot in the TAB Eureka at Menangle on September 7

The Emma Stewart-trained Major Delight is the second mare to secure a place in The TAB Eureka at Menangle on September 7.

Major Delight has booked a place in The TAB Eureka Picture: Stuart McCormick

STAR mare Major Delight will get the chance to try and match what her former stablemate Encipher did last year and win the world’s richest harness racing.

The Emma Stewart-trained Major Delight, which boasts 21 wins from just 26 starts, became the second confirmed mare in this year’s $2.1 million TAB Eureka when high-profile owners Danny and Jo Zavitsanos selected her with their “Team Zav” slot.

She joins the Luke McCarthy-trained Eye Keep Smiling, which landed the Wayne Loader slot, as the two confirmed mares in the September 7 feature at Club Menangle.

Encipher was the last confirmed runner in the Aaron Bain Racing and Summit Bloodstock slot last year when she won the inaugural TAB Eureka in sparkling style.

“We’ve done things differently this year,” Danny Zavitsanos said.

“We were first to announce our runner last year when Captain Ravishing ran third, but this year we’ve held back waiting for the right horse and we think Major Delight is it.

“It’s been just as nerve-racking. We’re grateful to all the people who have put their horses forward and we would have liked to have used our slot on our own horse, Petracca, but he just isn’t ready yet.

Major Delight has booked a place in The TAB Eureka

“We owe it to the TAB Eureka to go with the best possible horse and in partnering with Peter Lewis’ Major Delight, we think we’ve done that.

“She’s been very impressive with three tough wins from three starts this campaign and being a mare she will draw well and we think we’ve got the right formula to follow Encipher’s spectacular win last year.

“It’s such a special and important race for the industry and we can’t wait to be part of it again with Major Delight.”

Major Delight’s confirmation leaves just two “official” slots in the TAB Eureka, those of TAB and leviathan Queensland owners Kevin and Kay Seymour.

But doubts still linger over the form of The Lost Storm and whether he will remain in the Aaron Bain Racing & Summit Bloodstock slot.

The race for those remaining slots continues on Saturday night where talented Queensland pacer For Real Life tackles a Qbred Triad 4YO final at Albion Park.

“I hope those remaining slot holders watch him closely this week,” trainer-driver Trent Dawson said. “It turns out he was really crook through the big Queensland races and when they worked out what it was, they couldn’t believe he was even competitive.

“I know we’re up against it and losing that time has hurt our chances, but he’s ready to make a statement on Saturday night.”

The other confirmed TAB Eureka runners are: Never Ending (Soho Standardbreds); Captains Knock (Cordina Racing); Free Thinker (Racing Queensland); Fighter Command (Tasracing); Don Hugo (John Singleton).

TAB Eureka favourite Never Ending has settled well since arriving in NSW from WA last Friday.

Trainer Justin Prentice is looking towards a Menangle workout or possibly a trial before Never Ending has a lead-up race at Menangle on Saturday week.

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

Originally published as Star mare Major Delight books a spot in the TAB Eureka at Menangle on September 7