Victorian pacer Fighter Command chasing Eureka slot via The Beautide in Tasmania
Just as he did last year, the four-year-old will target the $60,000 Beautide in Hobart on August 2 for his ticket into the $2.1m TAB Eureka at Menangle on September 6.
The winner of the Beautide gets the Tasracing slot in the TAB Eureka and Fighter Command is eligible because he was bred and foaled in Tasmania.
'We didn't get an invitation as such to the Rising Sun (Albion Park on July 5), so we'll focus on the Beautide again,' trainer Jess Tubbs said.
Fighter Command, who was scratched just days before last year's TAB Eureka with a life threatening twisted bowel, has only raced five times since for two wins and two fourths.
• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
He will take another important step towards the TAB Eureka in a fascinating Nevele R Stud Pace (1720m) from a back row draw (gate 10) at Melton on Saturday.
Standing in his way is the exciting The Narcissist (gate eight), who is unbeaten in eight starts since switching to the powerhouse Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin stable.
Although Fighter Command won't head north, Tubbs is still going with one, maybe two of her stable stars.
The definite is star mare Rakero Rebel, who looks the main threat to pre-post favourite Eye Keep Smiling in the $150,000 Group 1 Golden Girl at Albion Park on July 19.
Rakero Rebel will sharpen up for Queensland when she drops back to racing her own sex from gate six in the eight race at Melton on Saturday night.
'Providing she goes as well as we expect, I have to take her,' Tubbs said.
'Better Eclipse is the other possible raider. He's got a Melton trial this week and probably another next week and then I'll make the final call on him.
'I had to turn him out again because he just wasn't himself in a couple of runs back, but he seems better now.'
In Tubbs' mind is how well Better Eclipse has performed in Queensland previously, including winning the Group 1 Sunshine Sprint in 2022.
Better Eclipse also won two heats and finished second in another before running second in the 2023 Brisbane Inter Dominion final behind the great Leap To Fame.
Queensland has been a happy hunting ground for Tubbs in general.
She scored her first Group 1 training success with Momentslikethese in the 2021 Queensland Oaks.
The other Melton race on Saturday night with big Brisbane implications is the Yabby Dams Trotters' Free-For-All where Arcee Phoenix resumes from a break.
Chris Svanosio's six-year-old scored his biggest win in the $NZ600,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge on April 4 and is vying for Inter Dominion favouritism with star Kiwi pair Oscar Bonavena and Bet N Win.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
High-flying Boomers through to Asian Cup semi-finals
Australia have coasted into the semi-finals of the Asian Cup with a 84-60 victory over the Philippines in an incident-free clash devoid of any drama after their spiteful encounter seven years ago. Unlike the much-talked about Thrilla in Manilla where Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier went toe-to-toe for 14 rounds in the Philippines, the infamous 'Basketbrawl in Bocaue' in 2018 made headlines around the globe for all the wrong reasons. Four Aussies were ejected as a result of the all-in brawl, while the Gilas were reduced to just three players before two of them fouled out to forfeit the game. But there were no such incidents at the more serene King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on Wednesday night, Australia instead comfortably sitting their opposition on the canvas without any controversy. Adam Caporn's men, who beat South Korea, Lebanon and Qatar on their way to the quarter-finals, stuck to their task from the start and finished the first quarter 29-12 in front. Jaylin Galloway and Jack McVeigh were deadly accurate in three-point shooting, but the Pilipinas began the second quarter in bold fashion to reduce the deficit to 12 points at 31-19, forcing a time out from the Australians. Kevin Quiambao provided the ray of hope for the passionate and loud Gilas fans with his shooting from outside the arc, but the Australians maintained control to extend their lead to 20 points (48-28) at halftime. The Boomers went up a notch after halftime, but so did the Gilas. They reduced the deficit to 19 points by edging the quarter 22-21, allowing themselves to dream. Caporn's charges, however, were too big, too strong and too fast and saw out a 24-point win, the Boomers still the team to beat in the tournament. Owen Foxwell led the scoring for Australia with 17 points while skipper Will Magnay was MVP. Australia will next meet the winner of Iran and Taiwan for a place in the final, while in the other semi-final the winner of China-South Korea will meet the victor of New Zealand and Lebanon. In the distant horizon lies the 2027 World Cup in Doha and the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028, where the Boomers will list their most powerful line-up. But for now the young Boomers brigade, with an average age of 24, have preserved Australia's unbeaten record since joining the competition in 2017 without much fuss nor bother.
The Australian
an hour ago
- The Australian
AFLW Round 1: No. 1 pick Ash Centra leads new era at Collingwood
On a night designed to celebrate one era of AFLW, it's only fitting that we launch the next. This season of the competition promises to be the best yet. And it will kick off with two traditional powerhouses, just like it did 10 seasons ago. But this time, a new cast of faces will seek to take Collingwood and Carlton back to the top of the AFLW. The Magpies are set to unleash Ash Centra, one of the most hyped No. 1 picks in AFLW history. SCROLL DOWN FOR OUR EXPERT TIPS FOR ROUND 1 Equal parts skill and class, Centra does things on the footy field that mere mortals can only dream of pulling off. By the end of the season, Centra could be what Harley Reid is to West Coast – the supremely talented teenager who lifts an entire football club off the canvas. It won't be long until she's appointment viewing. At Carlton, a family legacy welcomes a fresh chapter. Sophie McKay, sister of Abbie and daughter of Andrew, will make her AFLW debut. Back on that magical night in February 2017, Sophie rang the bell to signify the start of the very first AFLW game. Tonight, she'll line-up alongside her sister, the pair hoping to follow in the footsteps of their father and win a flag with the navy blues. It'll be an equally special night for Abbie, leading Carlton as captain for the first time, 22 years after Andrew stepped into the role in the absence of Brett Ratten in 2003. Sophie McKay will debut for the Blues. Picture:Collingwood have a new skipper too. Foundation Magpie Ruby Schleicher has taken the reins, succeeding Brianna Davey. One of the most marketable players in the competition, Schleicher's soaring media profile is matched only by her footballing ability. Both skippers will hope to pair a new era of leadership with on-field success. Collingwood last played finals in 2022 while Carlton haven't qualified since 2020. Thursday night is the chance for both to land their first blow of season 2025. The Blues led by second-year coach Matthew Buck will be buoyed by top 10 draft pick Poppy Scholz, off-season recruit Tara Bohanna and returning Irishwoman Erone Fitzpatrick, finally fit again after suffering an ACL injury back in Round 10 of the 2023 season. The Pies will also unveil father-daughter selection Violet Patterson, forgotten forward Kalinda Howarth and new winger and lifelong Collingwood supporter Airlie Runnalls. Whatever the result, women's football is the winner. Here's to the next 10 seasons. Eliza Reilly Staff Writer Eliza Reilly is a Perth-based sportswriter for CODE specialising in AFL, AFLW and netball. Born and raised in Perth, Eliza started her career as a sports cadet at the Gold Coast Bulletin, progressing to deputy sports editor. In 2020, she returned home to join The West Australian where she got the chance to cover an AFL grand final in her home state. Eliza has also been recognised for her journalism, including winning a Clarion Award and multiple WA Football Media Guild awards including the Tracey Lewis Emerging Talent Award in her first year at The West. @ByElizaReilly Eliza Reilly
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘Like a superpower': Nikita Tszyu reveals wild pre-fight diet consisting of placenta and breast milk
Nikita Tszyu's new pre-fight diet has raised more than a few eyebrows after the Aussie star revealed it includes capsulised placenta and breast milk. Tszyu and his wife, Nikita Bedwell, who married in secret in January, welcomed their first child together in June - named Curiosity after a NASA Mars rover. While the name is unique, so is the way Tszyu is preparing for his fight against Lulzim Ismaili on August 20. Tszyu told Triple M Breakfast on Wednesday that turning to capsulated placenta and breast milk has given him 'a crazy amount of energy' and joked he's 'technically become a cannibal.' 'So, for those who don't know, I just had a baby. And my wife … we freeze-dried her placenta and I've been supplementing on her placenta recently … in tablet form,' Tszyu said. 'I've technically become a cannibal. It's actually like a superpower.' Triple M's Aaron Woods chimed in: 'They reckon breast milk is the best thing you can have! It's so clean.' Tszyu replied: 'Yeah, and it's delicious as well!' Drinking breast milk rose in popularity on the back of weightlifters who claimed they gained extra muscle when switching from full cream to natural breast milk. However, no substantial research into the claim has ever been done. That's because, scientifically, it doesn't make sense. The idea of building muscle largely comes down to protein intake and targeted exercise. And if that is the marker, consuming breast milk instead of cow's milk makes zero sense. For example, 100g of breast milk contains around 1g of protein, compared to 3.1g of protein in full cream milk. The only areas where it is significantly higher are in sugars and fat. As for the placenta claim, Tszyu is just the latest to try a practice that is becoming increasingly common. Stars such as Hilary Duff and Kourtney Kardashian have consumed their placenta – either in liquid or capsule form – after having children. The placenta is a temporary organ, and its sole purpose is to provide the baby with nutrients during pregnancy. And in recent years, placenta tablets – which are pills created by drying and grinding up the placenta into a powder, then encapsulating it – have boomed in popularity. Research is, however, limited on its effectiveness, but the BBC reported in 2015 that there are no proven benefits to consuming it and if anything, it could be harmful. But for Tszyu, he says he feels the difference. 'I've done tests with my sparring – days where I've had it and days where I haven't – and it feels like I got all this crazy amount of energy,' he told Triple M. The science on its benefits is still unclear, but regardless, it's safe to say Tszyu isn't leaving any stone unturned as he looks to improve his record to 13-0 when he takes on Lulzim Ismaili on August 20.
