Big name booking strengthens Fox Dan's Eureka challenge

CAM Hart has landed the drive on last year’s runner-up Fox Dan as the driver jigsaw comes together for next Saturday night’s $1.5 million TAB Eureka at Menangle.

Owner Danny Zavitsanos confirmed the high-profile booking after talks with Fox Dan’s co-trainers Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin today.

“Cam’s driven him before and there’s no better driver at Menangle,” Zavitsanos said.

Hart has driven Fox Dan three times, including a win at Bathurst at his first start on March 22, 2024.

Since then, Hart was aboard when Fox Dan ran third to stablemate Always Hot in the Group 1 Vicbred 2YO on September 14, 2024 and again when second at Melton on June 28, last year.

Fox Dan is trying to replicate what Bay Of Biscay did by finishing second as a three-year-old and returning a year later to win the TAB Eureka at four.

Hart’s booking cements the drivers for Stewart and Tonkin’s record-equalling four runners.

Mark Pitt will be on Bettor Beach, Jason Lee will partner Cigano and The Last Trip will be driven by Will Rixon, who will have his first drive for the powerhouse stable.

In other driving news, trainer Grant Dixon confirmed he would take the reins on multiple Group 1 winner Fate Awaits, who has Wayne Loader’s Western Jewel slot in the TAB Eureka.

Stablemate Path To Greatness was driven by Robbie Morris when seventh in last year’s TAB Eureka and Dixon confirmed Morris had the gig again next Saturday night.

The only driver still to be confirmed is Jason Grimson’s recent stable addition Hesitate, who ran third in the race last year when trained and driven by Luke McCarthy.

With Hart on Fox Dan, it would be logical if Grimson took the reins himself on Hesitate given the increased amount of driving he has been doing this season.

The barrier draw will be conducted live on Sky Racing at 10am Tuesday.

Under the preferential conditions of the race, the lone three year-old filly Bettor Beach will draw the pole.

There will be a separate draw between the other two three-year-olds, Loucasso and Soho Charmer, for gates two and three.

The other seven runners are four-year-olds and will draw between four and 10.

By Adam Hamilton for Harness Racing Australia