Keeping his Eureka hopes real

Exciting Queenslander For Real Life (For A Reason) will chase his $2.1mil TAB Eureka through the $207,000 The Hayden at Albion Park on July 20.

Trainer-driver Trent Dawson said the harness racing winner of 13 of his 24 starts was scratched from Albion Park last Saturday night with an elevated temperature.

“It was slightly elevated and we’re at a stage of his preparation where we can still take every precaution to make sure everything is right,” he said.

“We’ve still got a month or so to get him right for his first feature race of many during the winter here (Queensland).”

The first target is the $52,000 Group 3 Chris Garrard’s Patrons Purse, a race made famous by Leap To Fame’s stunning win last year, at Redcliffe on June 21.

Then comes the $53,040 The Queensland Sun at Albion Park on July 6.

That could be the first of three features in as many weeks with the $355,000 Group 1 Rising Sun on July 13 and The Hayden on July 20.

“It’s a busy schedule, but The Hayden is a priority as it’s potentially our ticket into the Eureka,” Dawson said.

Racing Queensland has a slow in the TAB Eureka and created The Hayden to provide the winner with a golden ticket into world’s richest pacing race at Menangle on September 7.

Speak The Truth won last year’s inaugural The Hayden before running a terrific fifth from a mile back in the TAB Eureka behind Encipher.

“It’s not our only way of getting in, especially if he races as well as we hope over the next couple of months, but it would certainly take all the pressure off if we won The Hayden,” Dawson said.

For Real Life has been to Menangle twice for a 3YO Breeders Challenge heat win and a more recent forgettable last in a Chariots Of Fire qualifier when he galloped at the start and lost all hope in the Paleface Adios on February 24.

“He’s had two runs back here and was beaten first-up, but he wasn’t fit enough. He’s a stallion now and such a big horse,” he said.

“I was really pleased with the speed he showed along the sprint lane for the first time in his career when the leader stopped in front of him, but he still picked up strongly and won well second-up.”

For Real Life, who is also owned by Dawson, will be his stable star this winter with open-class star Future Assured sidelined.

“He had a few foot problems around Miracle Mile time and we decided it best to just give him a good break and miss the winter races,” Dawson said.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia