Sugars steals Group Three Geelong Pacing Cup

Greg Sugars could be charged for larceny after helping Mach Dan (Mach Three) complete back to back harness racing success in tonight’s (Oct. 21) Group 3 Geelong Pacing Cup.

The Emma Stewart trained Mach Dan easily crossed to the lead at the start and Sugars proceeded to ‘drop anchor’ as the $1.65 favorite Rock N Roll Doo opted to sit several lengths away leading the outside horses.

Devoid of any pressure, the leader ambled through the Cup lead time in 1:17.2, the slowest on record, before barely raising the tempo in a pedestrian 33.1 first quarter of the last mile.

Not surprisingly, Sugars allowed Mach Dan ($5) more rein with a lap to travel and he proceeded to reel off a slick 53.4 giving nothing else a chance holding a metre margin on the line over Major Moth with Rock N Roll Doo four metres away third in a mile rate of 2:00.9.

Back-to-back!

It’s a hometown win in the Group 3 $50,000 TMA Hire Geelong Pacing Cup for the second year in a row for Mach Dan, which leads all the way for Geelong owners Danny & Jo Zavitsanos & Warren Viney. pic.twitter.com/xUaU2D0U0y

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) October 21, 2023

Sugars admitted he didn’t expect to be able to dictate the terms of the race to suit himself in such a manner.

“Once I crossed pretty comfortably then I thought it’s our race to lose now and obviously the first lap was pretty pedestrian for this class of horse and we were able to just turn the race into a 1200 metre dash,” Sugars said.

“I was very confident once I found the top so easily and to get that first lap that easily I would have been disappointed if he didn’t finish the race off as well as what he did,” he said.

Mach Dan is raced by Team Zav comprising Danny and Jo Zavitsanos who were naturally delighted to win a second consecutive home town cup.

“I was hoping before the race but I thought Rock N Roll Doo had the draw on us but Clayton (Tonkin) told me if we can lead then they won’t catch him,” Danny Zavitsanos said after the race.

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink