Sugars is all sweet for NZ Cup

Classy Grand Circuit player Better Eclipse (Betterthancheddar) served notice he will help fly the Aussie flag with aplomb in this year’s New Zealand Trotting Cup with an impressive first up harness racing win at Melton.

First up since winning the Group 1 Auckland Trotting Cup in May, Better Eclipse was eased out at the start from his extreme draw while his main danger Catch A Wave worked around early to sit parked outside the leader Jilliby Willow.

Greg Sugars made his move on Better Eclipse setting off three wide without cover with 700 metres to travel and the six-year-old loomed up ominously three wide around the home turn.

The two class runners fought out the finish with Better Eclipse ($3.50 fav) gaining the ascendancy in the shadows of the post to score by a metre from Catch A Wave in a mile rate of 1:53.4 for the 1720 metres.

Better Eclipse (Jess Tubbs/Greg Sugars) produced a big finale from the back to win the opener at Melton – the Legend Popular Alm and Vin Knight Free For All – first-up from his Auckland Cup heroics in May. pic.twitter.com/DDOVgA4QCp

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) August 31, 2024

Better Eclipse will line up in the Group 1 Len Smith Mile at Menangle next Saturday night before being aimed at the Group 1 Victoria Cup at Melton a month later.

In November Better Eclipse will accompany his illustrious stable mate Just Believe across the Tasman where both horses are sure to be key players at Addington on the second Tuesday in November.

Champion Queensland pacer Leap To Fame will form the other half of a formidable two pronged assault on the New Zealand Trotting Cup.

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink