Trip across Bass Strait awaits Eureka hopeful

Emerging harness racing three-year-old Fighter Command (Always B Miki) could be sent to Tasmania in a bid to win his way into the world’s richest harness race, the $2.1million TAB Eureka.

Managing owner Peter Hayes confirmed The Beautide was a target feature for the Jess Tubbs-trained pacer, who took his career record to five wins from eight starts with a dominant first-up Melton display on June 27.

Fighter Command is Tasbred, meaning he is eligible for the three and four-year-old contest in early August where the winner is declared Tasracing’s runner in The Eureka.

“At this stage it’s definitely the plan to go down there and give it a good crack,” Hayes said.

Fighter Command was spelled following a fourth placing in a heat of the NSW Derby in March, which followed a shock defeat as a $1.10 favourite at Melton in February.

“He was crying out for time, so we just threw him out,” Hayes said.

“He wasn’t a ready-made horse and he’s still a bit green and all that.

“He’s a big, gangly type. There’s a fair bit of horse there.”

Last year, The Beautide was won by Todd Rattray-trained Magician, who then performed admirably for fourth behind Encipher in the inaugural running of the TAB Eureka.

“He hasn’t really been tested,” Hayes said of Fighter Command. “He’s only had a few starts.

“He’s a bit of an unknown quantity, but he looks like he’s got something under the bonnet.

“I reckon he’s very promising. How good he is, we’ve got no idea at this stage.”

The 2024 TAB Eureka will be run at Menangle on September 7 while Fighter Command is nominated for a race at Melton this Friday night.

by Tim O’Connor, for HRV