NZ raid on the cards for star Aussie trotter

Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars’ star trotter could be set to join the stable’s top pacer for a major harness racing campaign in New Zealand.

Gun five-year-old Better Eclipse (Betterthancheddar) has recently been secured to run in the $1million slot feature – The Race at Cambridge on April 14 – and there’s plans to take Australia’s top squaregaiter Just Believe (Orlando Vici) over to meet him.

“There’s a chance we may take Just Believe across for the trotting races in the lead-up to the Rowe Cup,” Sugars, who trains in an unofficial partnership with Tubbs, said.

“If Better Eclipse stays right the way through, we might send him across to join him.

“That’s potentially on the cards for him after he comes back from Sydney.”

The $200,000NZ Group 1 Rowe Cup is scheduled for May 26 in Auckland and would see the in-form Aussie gelding tackle some of New Zealand’s best trotters on their home soil.

The news follows Just Believe’s victory in the Great Southern Star Final last Friday and his Inter Dominion Trotting Championship triumph in December.

Sugars said it was exciting to get an opportunity to compete in The Race with Better Eclipse, who has been snapped up by slot holders Phil and Glenys Kennard.

The champion reinsman said Better Eclipse would be aimed at a second appearance in the Miracle Mile – a race he finished third in last year – before travelling across the Tasman.

“I’ll probably head over with him and stay with him until The Race is done, and then we’ll decide while he’s over there whether he stays on for any other races,” Sugars said.

“We’ll work out whether I’m backwards and forwards or Jess swaps over… we don’t really know yet.

“There’s the Taylor Mile and Messenger, and the Auckland Cup (May 26) is a few weeks after that.

“If he looks like he’s good enough and everything’s alright, he could possibly stay right the way through.”

Better Eclipse, a 12-time winner and earner of nearly $600,000 in prizemoney, hasn’t raced since a fourth placing in the Group 1 Vicbred Super Series final for four-year-old entires and geldings on December 31.

by Tim O’Connor, for Harness Racing Victoria