Top Pacers Target Final TAB Eureka Slots

TRAINERS Shannon Price and David Moran have joined the $2.1mil TAB Eureka campaigning process for slots with their classy pacers Sure Thing Captain and Captain Hammerhead.

It is something we will see a lot more of in coming weeks with the frantic drive to the line for the remaining slots in the race.

As it stands, there are three slots remaining, but one of those, the Tasracing slot, will go to the winner of Saturday night’s $80,000 The Beautide in Hobart.

So, that leaves just the Team Zav and Kevin and Kay Seymour slots.

But doubts linger over long-time favourite Frankie Ferocious after he failed at Albion Park last Saturday night.

There’s nothing official, but TAB will surely be in talks with connections about whether to push ahead with the partnership or look for a replacement runner for its slot.

Sure Thing Captain, who won the TAB Eureka “consolation” – The Stockade – last year, returned from a setback with an eye-catching seventh from an impossible position in last Saturday night's strong 4YO Championship at Albion Park.

“His run was fantastic and I know how much improvement there is to come,” Price said.

“He ran the second fastest last mile of the night with his 1min51.3sec. The only horse who went faster covered 10m extra away from the marker pegs and out guy covered 30m extra.

“I’m actually shocked how good he went considering how little work and racing he’s had.”

Price has opted to back-up Sure Thing Captain this week to try and grab the attention of TAB Eureka slot owners.

“We’re leaving our run late because he had a cyst in his throat which they thought would need surgery, but it didn’t and he was able to go straight back into work,” she said.

Meanwhile, Captain Hammerhead is primed for a racetrack return after a minor setback ruined his Queensland winter campaign.

The four-year-old, who ran ninth in last year’s TAB Eureka as a raw three-year-old, has been in terrific form this campaign with four wins from his past six Melton runs.

“He’s been on the water-walker and back in work now. He's probably a couple two or three off a race … now we need to grab some attention,” Moran said.

“I’m sure he’s good enough to be a serious player in the TAB Eureka and we just need someone to back him in.

“He’s come so far over the past 12 months. He’s pretty much a complete racehorse now, so strong and still has his wicked turn of speed.”

Captain Hammerhead