History-making $250,000 Chariots Of Fire

A race record, an age record and the fastest first quarter ever seen at Menangle – tonight’s $250,000 Chariots Of Fire had it all.

The history-making win went to Better Eclipse who went away with the Group 1 feature in a sizzling mile rate of 1:47.6 – making him the fastest son of Betterthancheddar in the process.

Fireworks were set early when Bettor Call Me, Krug and Bondi Lockdown all chased hard to find a forward position and subsequently the opening quarter was a scintillating 24.3 seconds!

The previous fastest first 400m seen at Menangle was 24.6, shared by My Field Marshal and Majordan.

While all of this was happening, Better Eclipse was tucked away on the pegs with driver Greg Sugars having to take evasive action to move around a galloping Titian Raider.

He then went back to the pegs quickly as Bettor Call Me led the field and rolled through the next two quarters in 28.2 and 27.2 seconds.

Race favourite Bondi Lockdown was posted outside the leader and hit the front in home stretch before a barnstorming finish by Better Eclipse saw him claim the feature by more than a metre.

Sugars has won some of Australasia’s biggest races yet this was his first success in the Chariots Of Fire along with trainer Jess Tubbs.

“I’m probably in a bit of disbelief at the moment,” an emotional Greg Sugars said straight after the win.

“It means a lot to me . . . especially to have Jess up here with me.

“This horse has been great and we’re really proud.

“I was driving him for his previous trainer Craig Hoban and we started training this horse and took him all the way to Mildura for his first start with us.

“He has grown every time a challenge has been thrown at him.”

The pacer’s next challenge will be the $1million Miracle Mile at Menangle on March 5, earning an automatic invitation following this success tonight.

To view the results from Menangle on Saturday night click here.

By Amanda Rando for Harnesslink