Devastating setback sees Wisper A Secret in the Eureka mix

Tasmania has given Queensland a third harness racing representative in the $2.1mil TAB Eureka after a dramatic day of twists.

A devastating health setback to the Tasracing slot runner and outstanding three-year-old Fighter Command (Always B Miki) forced him out of the race.

The Jess Tubbs-trained pacer was struck down with a twisted intestine, requiring emergency surgery.

The TAB Eureka rules meant Tasracing had to move swiftly to select one of the four emergencies to fill their vacant slot.

They landed on Wisper A Secret (Huntsville), who will start from barrier five. He firmed from $15 to $9 when his spot in the field was confirmed.

“It’s certainly not good circumstances and we really feel for the team with Fighter Command,” Wisper A Secret’s trainer Chantal Turpin said.

“But we’re obviously thrilled when the opportunity came, Tasracing chose our horse.

“We’ve been wanting to get into the TAB Eureka for months and thought he might have done enough when we won the Rising Sun.

“Then, he drew badly and flew home for such a huge run last Saturday, but Sure Thing Captain got the ticket in.

“We’ve always felt he deserved a run and it’s great to be in there.”

It was a big day for the Queenslanders with Sure Thing Captain drawing ideally in gate five, but he will move down into four with Fighter Command out. His odds were slashed from $5.50 to $3.80.

In contrast, long-time favourite Never Ending drew the extreme outside and will start from gate 10. He eased from $2.50 to $3.30.

Former champion Queensland horseman Luke McCarthy is the missing piece in the driver jigsaw for the race.

McCarthy trains Eye Keep Smiling and Don Hugo and will decide which one he drives today (Tuesday).

by Adam Hamilton, for The Eureka