Latest news with #KevinSeymour
The Australian
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
2025 TAB Eureka: Crunch week for slots is underway
Crunch week for slots in the world's richest harness race starts today. Six of the 10 slots still remain in the $2.1 million TAB Eureka, run at Menangle in just 18 days. Leviathan Queensland owners Kevin and Kay Seymour hope to have two runners – both three-year-olds – and the first of them, Path To Greatness, gets his last chance to impress in the eighth race at Albion Park today. The feature race winner is a $1.30 favourite from gate six. Fate Awaits will also have his final lead-up race against his own age at Albion Park on Saturday night. The Seymours have a slot of their own, but are holding off confirming a runner while they explore interest for a second runner with other remaining slot owners. Champion pacer Leap To Fame ran second for the Seymours in the inaugural 2023 TAB Eureka and last year they used their slot on Bay Of Biscay, who flashed home for a luckless second. • 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! 'We're desperate to go one better, that's why we're holding off as long as we can to settle on our runner. Both horses are good enough to be very competitive, especially with the preferential draws the three-year-olds get,' Kevin Seymour said. The Emma Stewart-trained Bay Of Biscay, is $3.50 favourite to return and go one better than last year, also has his last lead-up run at Melton on Saturday night. Stewart and co-trainer Clayton Tonkin opted to keep him at Melton rather than make another trip to Menangle, where he ran a slashing third last start. It could mean a clash with Jess Tubbs' $5 TAB Eureka second favourite Fighter Command if she elects to race at Melton, too. Stewart and Tonkin, who won the 2023 TAB Eureka with Encipher, look set to have multiple runners again. • Tickets now on sale for TAB Eureka Calcutta Although Bay Of Biscay, who will run Rob Watson's Soho Standardbreds slot this time, is their only confirmed runner, they have Fox Dan, War Dan Buddy and Go Miki in serious contention for some of the remaining slots. Fox Dan and War Dan Buddy won impressively at Melton last weekend and their owners Danny and Jo Zavitsanos will take one of them in their own TAB Eureka slot. The Summit Bloodstock and Aaron Bain Racing team are sure to use their slot on a Stewart/Tonkin runner, with Go Miki and War Dan Buddy the likely frontrunners. The most intriguing TAB Eureka lead-up race of the week will be the Discovery Stakes at Menangle on Saturday night. With so many exciting pacers chasing the last few slots, most of them will clash in the do-or-die Discovery. The slot owners most likely to wait for the Discovery include Cordina Racing and, possibly, TAB. Hall of Fame thoroughbred trainer John Hawkes is among those sweating on a slot with his untapped three-year-old Seathestars, a brilliant Menangle winner last Saturday night. Other pacers like Bernie Hewitt's pair Royal Cruiser and Our Goat, Jimmy Rattray's Our Luciano, the much-improved Glitter Aint Gold, along with classy Queensland pair Attachment and French Fries remain right in the mix. • Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
2025 TAB Eureka: Last chance saloon for hopefuls ahead of $2.1m harness feature
Crunch week for slots in the world's richest harness race starts today. Six of the 10 slots still remain in the $2.1 million TAB Eureka, run at Menangle in just 18 days. Leviathan Queensland owners Kevin and Kay Seymour hope to have two runners – both three-year-olds – and the first of them, Path To Greatness, gets his last chance to impress in the eighth race at Albion Park today. The feature race winner is a $1.30 favourite from gate six. Fate Awaits will also have his final lead-up race against his own age at Albion Park on Saturday night. The Seymours have a slot of their own, but are holding off confirming a runner while they explore interest for a second runner with other remaining slot owners. Champion pacer Leap To Fame ran second for the Seymours in the inaugural 2023 TAB Eureka and last year they used their slot on Bay Of Biscay, who flashed home for a luckless second. 'We're desperate to go one better, that's why we're holding off as long as we can to settle on our runner. Both horses are good enough to be very competitive, especially with the preferential draws the three-year-olds get,' Kevin Seymour said. The Emma Stewart-trained Bay Of Biscay, is $3.50 favourite to return and go one better than last year, also has his last lead-up run at Melton on Saturday night. Stewart and co-trainer Clayton Tonkin opted to keep him at Melton rather than make another trip to Menangle, where he ran a slashing third last start. It could mean a clash with Jess Tubbs' $5 TAB Eureka second favourite Fighter Command if she elects to race at Melton, too. Stewart and Tonkin, who won the 2023 TAB Eureka with Encipher, look set to have multiple runners again. ðŸ'¥ TAB Eureka power rankings ðŸ'¥ Fighter Command stays #1, Bay Of Biscay & Fate Awaits close behind. Royal Cruiser climbs, Fox Dan debuts in top 10. Who’s your tip? ðŸ'¨ @SkyRacingAU @ClubMenangle @HRNSW_Harness @tabcomau #TABEureka #harnessracing — The TAB Eureka (@eurekarace) August 12, 2025 • Although Bay Of Biscay, who will run Rob Watson's Soho Standardbreds slot this time, is their only confirmed runner, they have Fox Dan, War Dan Buddy and Go Miki in serious contention for some of the remaining slots. Fox Dan and War Dan Buddy won impressively at Melton last weekend and their owners Danny and Jo Zavitsanos will take one of them in their own TAB Eureka slot. The Summit Bloodstock and Aaron Bain Racing team are sure to use their slot on a Stewart/Tonkin runner, with Go Miki and War Dan Buddy the likely frontrunners. The most intriguing TAB Eureka lead-up race of the week will be the Discovery Stakes at Menangle on Saturday night. With so many exciting pacers chasing the last few slots, most of them will clash in the do-or-die Discovery. The slot owners most likely to wait for the Discovery include Cordina Racing and, possibly, TAB. Hall of Fame thoroughbred trainer John Hawkes is among those sweating on a slot with his untapped three-year-old Seathestars, a brilliant Menangle winner last Saturday night. Other pacers like Bernie Hewitt's pair Royal Cruiser and Our Goat, Jimmy Rattray's Our Luciano, the much-improved Glitter Aint Gold, along with classy Queensland pair Attachment and French Fries remain right in the mix.
News.com.au
08-07-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Albion Park photographer Dan Costello's cancer battle casts pall over Leap To Fame's 2025 Inter Dominion bid
Champion pacer Leap To Fame's quest for a second Brisbane Inter Dominion crown has been engulfed by sadness. Dan Costello, the hugely popular Albion Park photographer who has captured many of Leap To Fame's greatest moments, has revealed he is rapidly losing a battle with advanced cancer. The 66-year-old was back at the office taking snaps of Leap To Fame's opening round Inter Dominion win last Saturday night, but had to leave soon after. 'They've told me to start planning for palliative care,' Costello said. 'My main tumour has tripled in size since the last check-up and the cancer has now spread to my spine. They told me it would be two months before I'd really start to feel the full impact, but it's already getting hard now.' Leap To Fame's owner Kevin Seymour learned of Costello's plight and – as he has done for so many – is throwing all his support behind him. Seymour has connected Costello with a 'cancer guru' at Brisbane's Mater Hospital and will pay all his medical bills and any lost income. 'Dan's one of nature's gentlemen. If I was in his position and had done as much for harness racing as he has, I'd like to think someone would do this for me,' Seymour said. 'I don't want him working, I want him seeing the best and working out the best way to fight this. We all want Dan at the 2026 and 2027 Inter Dominions here in Brisbane, not this year. 'I've got him to see the best specialist there is in Queensland and we're all hoping there is a treatment plan.' An emotional Costello said he and wife, Gitana, were humbled by Seymour's generosity and support. 'He's given me hope when there was none … all I can ask for is hope,' he said. 'Not only is Kevin using his connections big time for me, but this costs a huge amount of money and I just don't have it.' Costello, who has been Albion Park's course photographer for 14 years, was first diagnosed with bladder cancer a week after Leap To Fame won his first Inter Dominion crown at Albion Park in December, 2023. The Champ.. Leap To Fame wins Round 1 Heat 3 @ladbrokescomau ID 25 @TheCreekAlbion for Grant & Trista Dixon — Dan Costello (@DanRacingWrap) July 5, 2025 'My world came crashing down. I was on such a high after what Leap To Fame did in that Inter Dominion. He's the best horse I've photographed and it was such a huge night for Queensland harness racing,' he said. 'Then I got that diagnosis, which was really bleak. It was just a few days before Christmas, too. 'I had the tumour removed from my bladder, but they said it had spread and was aggressive. It went to my liver and is now in my spine. 'I'd pretty much run out of options, but now there's hope Kevin's help can at least buy me some more time. 'I've lost a stack of weight and get very tired. Kevin wants me fighting my battle at the moment, not working at the races. Without him I simply wouldn't have the money to do that.' Although Seymour doesn't want Costello working at the races, he wants him trackside to cheer for Leap To Fame in Saturday week's $1 million Ladbrokes Inter Dominion final. 'Dan doesn't know this, but if we win it again, we're giving the winning trophy to Dan,' Seymour said. Leap To Fame won his first round Inter Dominion heat last Saturday night, is favourite his second heat this week and a commanding $1.25 prepost favourite to win the Grand Final on July 19.
