Bay Of Biscay ready to make waves

THE world’s richest harness race has another serious X factor.

Recent Queensland Derby runner-up Bay Of Biscay (Somebeachsomewhere) today became the second confirmed three-year-old starter in the $2.1mil TAB Eureka at Menangle on September 7.

The Emma Stewart-trained colt joins Fighter Command, an impressive winner of The Beautide in Hobart, as the other three-year-old in the TAB Eureka. Fighter Command will race in the Tasracing slot.

Leviathan Queensland owner Kevin Seymour, who had his champion pacer Leap To Fame finish second in last year’s inaugural TAB Eureka, confirmed he had reached a deal for Bay Of Biscay to race in the slot he has with wife, Kay, in this year’s race.

“Bay Of Biscay’s owners spoke with me after his excellent performance in the Queensland Derby and things developed from there,” Seymour said.

“They’ve been refreshingly good to deal with and have really embraced the TAB Eureka concept, which is important. We also like the fact he’s got a big group of enthusiastic and influential owners, including a Queenslander in Diane Reilly.

“To say this horse is an excitement machine is an understatement.”

Bay Of Biscay has raced just 12 times for six wins, four seconds and as third. He has finished second in both the NSW and Queensland Derbys this season.

“He’s a big strong type, out of a former top mare (Nike Franco). I’m not worried about his age. In fact, under the old system (calendar), he would be turning four on September 1,” Seymour said.

“One of the many great things about the TAB Eureka concept is the preferential draw for three-year-olds. Bay Of Biscay is going to draw either barrier one or two and that’s a big advantage in any race.

“Kay and I had talks with the connections of a lot of contenders, but we have settled on Bay Of Biscay after we weighed everything up. We’re confident he’ll run a big race.”

Bay Of Biscay’s managing owner Tim Bunning was buzzing after securing a TAB Eureka berth.

“The ownership group is delighted Kevin and Kay Seymour have selected our horse to fill their slot and we hope to celebrate with them on the night,” he said.

“Emma (Stewart) and Clayton (Tonkin, co-trainers) believe Bay Of Biscay is a very worthy contender as the horse is on the rise and showed as much with his run in the Queensland Derby (July 27).

“Pleasingly, the horse has been ‘bucking his brand off’ since the Derby run and we fully expect him to carry his form into the TAB Eureka.”

Bay Of Biscay gives Stewart and Tonkin, who trained Encipher to win last year’s inaugural TAB Eureka with Encipher, at least two runners in this year’s race. The other is star mare Major Delight, who has the Team Zav slot.

The Seymours are in an enviable position of having strong connections to two runners in this year’s TAB Eureka.

Along with Bay Of Biscay racing in their slot, they own the exciting Free Thinker, who won his way into the race with a recent win in The Hayden at Albion Park.

“Kay and I are huge supporters of the TAB Eureka and we’d love to go one better than we did with Leap To Fame last year,” Seymour said.

by Adam Hamilton, for The Eureka