MAJOR DELIGHT locked in for TEAM ZAV

STAR mare Major Delight will get the chance to try and match what her former stablemate Encipher did last year and win the world's richest harness racing.

The Emma Stewart-trained Major Delight, which boasts 21 wins from just 26 starts, became the second confirmed mare in this year's $2.1 million TAB Eureka when high-profile owners Danny and Jo Zavitsanos selected her with their "Team Zav" slot.

She joins the Luke McCarthy-trained Eye Keep Smiling, which landed the Wayne Loader slot, as the two confirmed mares in the September 7 feature at Club Menangle.

Encipher was the last confirmed runner in the Aaron Bain Racing and Summit Bloodstock slot last year when she won the inaugural TAB Eureka in sparkling style.

"We've done things differently this year," Danny Zavitsanos said.

"We were first to announce our runner last year when Captain Ravishing ran third, but this year we've held back waiting for the right horse and we think Major Delight is it.

"It's been just as nerve-racking. We're grateful to all the people who have put their horses forward and we would have liked to have used our slot on our own horse, Petracca, but he just isn't ready yet.

"We owe it to the TAB Eureka to go with the best possible horse and in partnering with Peter Lewis' Major Delight, we think we've done that.

"She's been very impressive with three tough wins from three starts this campaign and being a mare she will draw well and we think we've got the right formula to follow Encipher's spectacular win last year.

"It's such a special and important race for the industry and we can't wait to be part of it again with Major Delight."

Major Delight's confirmation leaves just two "official" slots in the TAB Eureka, those of TAB and leviathan Queensland owners Kevin and Kay Seymour.

· Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.

Full story: www.racenet.com.au/news/star-mare-major-delight-books-a-spot-in-the-tab-eureka-at-menangle-on-september-7-20240813