Eclipse secures The Rising Sun invitation

Group 1 star Better Eclipse is the latest horse to secure his spot in harness racing’s $305,000 AQWA Constructions The Rising Sun.

Earlier this week, connections confirmed the Victorian pacer would accept an invitation into the Southern Hemisphere’s richest race for three and four-year-old pacers, which plays a key role in the TAB Queensland Constellations.

The four-year-old announced himself as one of the nation’s most exciting pacers when claiming a maiden Group 1 title last month, scorching the track in what was one of the fastest races seen in Australasian pacing history to take out the Chariots of Fire.

His next start solidified his status amongst the top echelon, with a supremely impressive third placing in the famous $1 million Group 1 Miracle Mile behind the nation’s premier standardbred, King Of Swing.

Better Eclipse is the second horse to receive an invitation to this year’s The Rising Sun, after it was confirmed last month that Bondi Lockdown – who ran second in the Chariots of Fire – had taken up the offer to compete.

Joining Better Eclipse on his Queensland mission will be stablemate and Victoria Cup placegetter Triple Eight, who will be looking to target both the Group 1 Blacks A Fake and Sunshine Sprint.

Trainer Jess Tubbs said that she is excited by the opportunity to bring stable star Better Eclipse to the Sunshine State for the first time.

“We had The Rising Sun on the radar for Better Eclipse so to get this invite was absolutely terrific and we are very proud,” Tubbs said.

“The carnival has grown from strength-to-strength with everything that has been put into it, and it’s something that every interstate trainer should have on their radar come the winter months.

“We’re really looking forward to being a part of it and cannot wait to get up there in July.”

Earlier this year, it was confirmed that The Rising Sun – to be staged at The Creek on Saturday, July 9 – would receive a $50,000 prize money increase, to be run for $305,000 in 2022.

The race also offers a $100,000 bonus for a three-year-old winner.

First staged in 2021 as a part of the inaugural TAB Queensland Constellations, it was the father-and-son combination of Mark and Nathan Purdon who were successful thanks to star mare Amazing Dream.

In line with RQ’s focus on innovation, a ‘pick your own barrier’ element will be added to the existing preferential barrier draw for The Rising Sun, which is expected to add further intrigue to the race.

Under conditions of the race, RQ and Albion Park Club officials can issue up to two invites to four-year-olds and two wildcard invites to three-year-olds, with the balance of the field made up from the nominations.

Throughout the Constellations, more than $2.5 million in prize money and bonuses will go on the line, including 11 Group 1s.

Click here for more information on the 2022 TAB Queensland Constellations.

By RQ Media