Inter Dominion has eluded top driver

Few would argue that Victorian-based harness racing reinsman Greg Sugars is in the upper echelon of drivers Australia-wide.

Sugars (37) is on the verge of cracking 3500 career victories and has consistently piloted a century of winners in a season.

In fact, the last time he failed to do so was in 2008.

During the 2019-20 term, Sugars posted his best result to date when he chalked up 321 winners and a staggering 503 placegetters from 1617 drives.

Sugars has tasted success in some of Australia’s biggest races with multiple Group 1 wins under his belt, but the Inter Dominion has eluded him, and he admits winning one is something he yearns for.

“It is the ultimate goal to win an Inter Dominion, and this year I feel we have the horse that can do it,” said Sugars.

The horse that he speaks of is Triple Eight, a New Zealand-bred gelding that is trained by his partner, Jess Tubbs.

“Jess has done a great job with this horse,” he said.

“He has performed strongly throughout series and is raced by a great bunch of owners, including our popular ‘Pacing Priest’, Father Brian Glasheen.

“During the series, in two of his heats track records were broken at Bathurst and Newcastle and his closing sectionals were superb.

“If they decide to go hard early tomorrow night and run the race upside down, I know Triple Eight will be charging home.

“Obviously King Of Swing and Expensive Ego are going to be extremely hard to beat but our guy has been building towards the Final nicely and I am sure that he will get his chance at some stage of the race.”

It could be a big night for Sugars on Saturday as apart from partnering Triple Eight in the Grand Final, he is aboard the Kevin Pizzuto-trained Mach Dan in the Consolation, the Brosnan-trained Maori Law in the TAB Inter Dominion Trotting Championship Final, and Better Eclipse, one of two runners Jess Tubbs has in the Slingsby Holdings Carousel Final.

“Away from Triple Eight I have some nice drives, so I am hoping for a big night,” he said.

“The trotter Maori Law is flying and was strong in his heat win last Sunday while Better Eclipse has a big chance in the Carousel Final, provided he gets the run to suit.”

To view the fields for Menangle on Saturday night click here.

By Michael Dumesny for HRNSW