Greg leads the way at Warragul

Champion reinsman Greg Sugars was kept busy at Warragul harness racing meetings last season-and his efforts were rewarded with the leading driver trophy.

Sugars, of Myrniong, drove 34 horses for an impressive strike rate of five wins, nine runners-up and five third placings and freely admits it’s a track he enjoys.

“It’s not the closest track to us, but we enjoy going there. It’s a half mile track, and a good half mile track – as good as they get, I think,” Sugars said.

“It’s unusual for a Warragul meeting to be on and I’m not there. Our own horses seem to be suited down there, and there are quite a few trainers who go there who look after me. I thoroughly enjoy my day out down there.

“It’s always a good battle in the driving between Chris (Alford) and myself, but it was nice to get the trophy.”

Andy Gath, of Long Forest, son of legendary horseman Neville, was a clear winner of the trainer of the year award. A formidable team with his reinswoman wife Kate, Gath has prepared a career 2657 winners (49 of these G1s) for stakemoney nearing a staggering total of $23M.

He finished nine points clear of Jess Tubbs, who recently left her management role in marketing with the Victorian greyhound industry to be full-time with the horses with her husband Greg Sugars at their Larajay Farms property.

Warragul’s Concession Driver of the Year premiership come down to an intriguing battle between Bendigo’s Jack Laugher and Kyal Costello, based at Croydon.

Both had 18 drives at Warragul during the season, with Laugher, who originally hails from Tasmania and at one stage planned to be a motor mechanic, taking the award by one solitary point.

The Pacer of the Year also saw a close tussle with brown gelding Sonnys Amazing (Bettors Delight-Amazing Ellen (Dream Away) getting the nod over Lotakevi by one point.

Sonnys Amazing, formerly prepared by Greg Hansen, is now with Aaron Bain, racing under the umbrella of AB Racing Pty Ltd, ABR 100 Club and Summit Bloodstock Syndicate.

Cranbourne ‘man of the moment’ Scott Ewen, who won the G2 All in One Property Mercury 80 final of $50K at Melton last Saturday night with his grand campaigner Bulletproof Boy, claimed Warragul’s Trotter of the Year award with Trouble Giero (Great Success-Leggiero Del).

Ewen only raced Trouble Giero on two occasions at Warragul for a win and a third-but it was enough to get the trophy.

Trouble Giero started his racing in New Zealand before finding himself in NSW. He joined the Ewen team in early 2020.

The Warragul Club will present all trophies for last season at next Monday afternoon’s meeting and has urged all winners or a representative to be in attendance.

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink