Eureka watch on High Above

A FEW years back, owner-breeder Peter Gleeson was left wondering what might have been with his then superstar pacer Ride High (Art Major).

Ride High won 16 of his 18 starts from 2018-2020 but was cut down with injury and retired to stud before he got a chance to chase the biggest harness racing races.

He’s hoping it’s not the same with High Above (Captaintreacherous), Ride High’s half-brother, as he builds towards the world’s richest harness race, the $2.1mil TAB Eureka at Menangle on September 7.

Like Ride High, High Above’s career has been interrupted by injuries already. The four-year-old has managed just four starts for three wins.

But the glimpses we’ve seen and the glowing endorsement from co-trainer Clayton Tonkin is what has everybody excited and looking at High Above as the X-factor of the TAB Eureka.

The son of Captaintreacherous is yet to land a slot in the TAB Eureka, but looks a formality, especially with Extreme Sea now out of the picture.

Gleeson recalls a visit to Tonkin and Emma Stewart’s stables late last year, which pleasantly surprised him.

“It was around Victoria Derby time. Emma and Clayton had five in the Derby and some of the owners were there watching track work. Clayton said to me in front of them all ‘it’s a shame High Above isn’t in the Derby, he would blow them all away,” he said.

Stewart and Tonkin snared the quinella in the Derby with Petracca beating Perfect Class.

High Above had been sidelined a couple of months earlier after winning the Holloway Classic at Ballarat on August 18.

He hasn’t raced since.

“When he recovered and came back into work this time, Clayton said he would take his time and focus everything around the TAB Eureka,” Gleeson said.

True to his word, Tonkin and Stewart have turned their back on this month’s Queensland riches to prepare for the TAB Eureka.

High Above has brilliantly won his only official trial, albeit not beating much, at Melton on June 25. He ran a 1min55.1sec mile rate for 1720m and dashed home in 55.2sec.

But Gleeson was more taken by a private workout a week earlier against former Hunter Cup winner Honolua Bay.

“He sat on his back and certainly kept right up, They said he ran home in 53.9sec that day,” Gleeson said.

High Above is ready to resume and so much attention will be on him, especially from slot owners Team Zav (Danny and Jo Zavitsanos), who own Petracca, but have openly said they are holding out to see how both Petracca and High Above return.

High Above is one of four genuine TAB Eureka contenders for Stewart and Tonkin. The others are: The Lost Storm, Petracca and Perfect Class.

The Lost Storm and Perfect Class were to go to Brisbane for Saturday week’s $350,000 Group 1 Rising Sun, but travel complications have thwarted those plans.

Instead, The Lost Storm went to the Melton trials last Monday night and ran second to stablemate and unbeaten three-year-old filly Very Pretty.

Gleeson also bred and owns Very Pretty, but quickly ruled-out any surprise late move to run her in the TAB Eureka.

“No, there’s plenty of races for her against her own age and sex for the rest of the year,” he said.

by Adam Hamilton, for The Eureka