Miki To Success and connections following the Discovery Stakes success. Photo by Club Menangle
THE phone of Ray Selwoodhas been running hot from slotholders who are yet to secure a runner for the upcoming $2.1 million TAB Eureka.
That follows the effort of Miki To Success, the smart four-year-old he part-owns in scoring an emphatic win in last Saturday night’s $30,600 Racenet Discovery Stakes at Menangle.
In the key lead-up race to the world’s richest harness racing event, Miki To Success was back to his brilliant best, toying with a quality field of three and four-year-old pacers when he had almost 16 metres to spare over his nearest rival, stopping the clock in an impressive 1:52.5 mile rating after facing the breeze for majority of the 2300m trip.
The entire has shown above-average ability throughout his 28-start career, which has been hampered by niggling issues.
Selwood, who is head of the five-person ownership group, praised the efforts of the leading Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin training partnership, who have persevered with the stallion’s ailments.
On National Trotguide’s online forum, Selwood spoke with pride of his pacer’s win and how he and his fellow owners were eager for their horse to gain a start in the Eureka, believing that he would not look out of place based on last Saturday’s efforts.
“This horse has been almost 50 years in the making for me,” said Selwood.
“I have been around the game for my entire life and bred this horse with my father.
“So, it has been a long time coming but the wait has been worthwhile; he is a very nice animal.
“The Stewart stable has done an amazing job with him, and from a juvenile have always been of the opinion that he had what it takes to contest a Eureka.
“My phone started ringing immediately after the Discovery Stakes, and we have had some informal discussions with a couple of the slotholders, but nothing has been locked in yet.
“We will let the dust settle and sit down with Clayton and Emma after that.
“Ultimately we will let them have the last say on striking a deal, confident that they will do whatever they feel is best for the horse.”
