Wet weather throws up some challenges

Ferrying staff to work across a flooded creek probably wasn’t in Jess Tubbs’ job description when she elected to give up office life and go full-time as a harness racing trainer.

But as she and her husband Greg Sugars are putting the polish on Saturday night’s return of stable stars Triple Eight (American Ideal) and Better Eclipse (Betterthancheddar), it’s just another of the things that has to be done!

And, understandably, even more than 30 millimetres of rain on the couple’s rain sodden Larajay Farm, at Myrniong, and an early-morning four-wheel-drive taxi service for staff wasn’t going to dampen Tubbs’ enthusiasm this week.

Triple Eight (a winner of 20 from 88 starts and more than $600K in stakes) and Better Eclipse (10 wins from 30 and just short of $500K) are both set to resume in the Group Two TAB Smoken Up Sprint at Melton this weekend – with the Victoria Cup (October 8) and the 2022 InterDominion heats clearly on the radar.

“It’s an interesting race and there’s plenty of depth but the barrier draws have fallen pretty well for us,” Tubbs said.

“For Triple Eight (barrier eight) it will suit him sitting back on the fence at this stage. I think he needed the trial (Geelong Sept 19), and he’s worked really well this week. He had a good hitout yesterday and with this run ahead of the Victoria Cup, we’re very happy with him,” she said.

“All being well through the Victoria Cup we’re looking towards the InterDominion (starting November 26). It’s quite an advantage in having it in Melbourne this year and not needing to worry about travel and accommodation and all those logistics.”

The big guns are not all that is keeping the Tubbs-Sugars stable buzzing, though, with Bart (Triple Eight’s) three-year-old brother Upsize Me (American Ideal) also giving notice he might just be up to filling those big shoes.

The youngster, stable name “Telf”, recorded front-running victories at his only two Australian starts for the stable, at Warragul (Sep. 12) and Ballarat (Sep. 21) and will step out at Geelong again on Friday night.

“He’s not ideally drawn in barrier seven, but it does look a good race for him.  He still has a few chinks in his armour though.  His manners have let him down a bit previously and he is still a little rough,” Tubbs said.

“Time will tell if he can be as good as Bart, but when he is feeling right, he definitely has that electric speed.  I’m hoping in time and as his confidence grows, he will keep improving. He certainly seems worth worrying about, anyway!

“He’s a lot better to get along with than Bart – he’s a bit of a grumpy old man who still tries to kick me every time I walk behind! We don’t hold that against him though – a bit of attitude’s okay!”

The stable also recently took over training duties for InterDominion placegetter Just Believe (Orlando Vici), which has duly racked up trotters’ cup victories at Shepparton (Sept 16) and Kilmore (Sept 23) in his first three starts for the stable.

Tubbs, who was previously marketing manager with Greyhound Racing Victoria, admits it’s been a long winter – but there’s plenty to keep the Larajay Farms team motivated.

“There are some days when an office job definitely looks pretty appealing,” she laughed.

“It’s been tough, but we’re getting there. It’s an industry with a lot of highs and lows and it’s a business and a job that isn’t like anything else.

“Everyone who does it knows how hard it is, so it’s nice to enjoy the opportunities and the good times when they come along.”

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink