Rollercoaster half hour for Sugars

Greg Sugars endured a rollercoaster half hour of harness racing at Melton tonight (Sep. 8).

Sugars was first past the post aboard One Over All in the R C Freestone Trotters For All only to lose the race in the stewards’ room after a protest from Nathan Jack on the runner up Visionary (Orlando Vici) was upheld.

Sugars partnered the $2.10 favorite Better Eclipse (Betterthancheddar) in the VHRC Caduceus Classic 30 minutes later.

The Jess Tubbs trained Better Eclipse sat parked outside the leader and main danger Bulletproof Boy ($3.40) and the pair drew clear in the home straight to fight out the finish with Better Eclipse holding off Bulletproof Boy who rallied late by a short half head.

Sugars returned home from Sydney delighted with Better Eclipse’s effort to finish on the heels of the place getters in last week’s Group 1 Len Smith Mile.

“I was rapt with his run in the Len Smith Mile as it was a pretty ordinary run race for Menangle with a couple of 28 second quarters before it being a dash for the last 400 and those back in the field virtually had no hope,” Sugars said.

“So to finish within five metres of the winner was pretty pleasing,” he said.

Sugars acknowledged the performance of Bulletproof Boy as a gallant runner up in the Caduceus Classic.

“I’ve seen enough of Bulletproof Boy lately to know that he would keep rallying so it was no surprise that he came again in the straight,” he said.

Sugars is hoping that the son of Betterthancheddar can go two places better in this year’s Victoria Cup after finishing third behind Rock N Roll Doo and Honolua Bay in the race last year.

“It’s shaping up as one of the better Victoria Cups in recent years with all the main players stepping up at the moment,” he said.

“Better Eclipse may have one more run prior to the Victoria Cup but we are happy where he is at the moment.”

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink