Redwood success with Sugar on top

Having enjoyed a thrilling run with Alan Tubbs-trained Melpark Mark a tick over a decade earlier, Smith returned to the winners’ circle with Tubbs’ daughters trainer Jess and co-owner Amy to capture the Aldebaran Park Redwood Classic.

Cognati (Majestic Son), bred in Victoria by David Scott, flew the start while others miss-stepped and then cleared out in the run home to capture the $50,000 crown, with fillies filling the first three placings.

Reinsman Greg Sugars, who shares Larajay Farms with Jess Tubbs, was rapt post-race and told TrotsVision they’d “liked her from day one”.

“We picked her out of the yearling sales, and all credit goes to my sister-in-law Amy (Tubbs), she’s the one who saw her first and said you’d better come and have a look at this girl,” Sugars said. “She’s been my favourite ever since.

“(Don Smith) got in touch with us on our way home from the sale and said ‘do you need anyone to take a share, because I wouldn’t mind being in the stable again?’

“We were more than happy obviously to have him involved with the Tubbs girls with their previous connection with Melpark Major. A lot of special moments there, so really pleased he could join our team and we can get a few special moments of our own.”

Despite beginning from the back row of the standing start, Sugars was able to soon work his way to the front of affairs on Cognati, aided in part by the mistakes of others including fancied pair Susan Is Her Name and The Locomotive.

Sugars withstood an early challenge by Rockinwithattitude, which petered out when the latter broke, but young reinsman Jayden Barker was able to steady up, settle four back and then challenge again from the breeze in the final lap.

However, Rockinwithattitude’s campaign was snuffed out at the final bend when he broke again, this time disadvantaged after Cognati veered out, and the leader was able to scoot away for an eight-metre win ahead of Valerie Lane and Susan Is Her Name, who recovered well after her costly, early miss-step.

“(Cognati)’s always been exceptional, her manners have been sensational basically right from the word go, apart from veering off the track late – that’s a bad habit that she’s just got in to,” Sugars said.

“It’s kind of half put a sour taste in my mouth, I apologise to connections of Rockinwithattitude for what happened at the top of the straight there.

“Once we got through the traffic early she just felt like the winner from a long way out. She’s an incredibly good horse to deal with and train. You couldn’t ask for a better horse. Just a great doing horse, great type. We love her.”

For complete race results and replays, click here.

by Michael Howard, for HRV