Aussie News

Trainer Jess Tubbs thinks Auckland Cup winner Better Eclipse (Betterthancheddar) has come back better ever as he prepares for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 12.

The six-year-old returned for his first run since that Auckland Cup win with a sparkling Melton harness racing win over fellow star Catch A Wave in a 1720m free-for-all last night.

Better Eclipse (Jess Tubbs/Greg Sugars) produced a big finale from the back to win the opener at Melton – the Legend Popular Alm and Vin Knight Free For All – first-up from his Auckland Cup heroics in May. pic.twitter.com/DDOVgA4QCp

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) August 31, 2024

Simply, Better Eclipse beat Catch A Wave on his merits.

Catch A Wave, second-up from a spell, made an early move to sit outside the leader, while Better Eclipse had to make a sustained three-wide run without cover and won by 1.2m in a slick 1min53.4sec mile rate.

“His work at home has been better than ever and it was great to see him come and show it at the races,” Tubbs said.

Better Eclipse and Catch A Wave head to Menangle for next Saturday night’s $150,000 Group 1 Len Smith Mile at Menangle.

Beyond that, Better Eclipse has the Victoria Cup (October 12) and then may head to NZ early for the Kaikoura Cup.

Another key player in what shapes as a terrific Len Smith Mile will be Miracle Mile placegetter Speak The Truth.

First-up since a disappointing NZ raid, the Shannon Price-trained star dug deep for a slick 1min50.6sec free-for-all win at Menangle last night.

“He’ll be much better again next week, too. He’s come back really well,” Price said.

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IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup favourite Leap To Fame (Bettor’s Delight) is nearing a racetrack return.

Trainer-driver Grant Dixon said the champion pacer would resume at Albion Park on September 21.

Leap To Fame’s most immediate aim is the $300,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup at Melton on October 12.

“He’ll have two, maybe even three runs ahead of it,” Dixon said. “Last year, looking back, I just didn’t quite have him absolutely primed going into the Victoria Cup and I think it cost him winning.

“He didn’t have long out this time and two or three runs should bring him right to his top.”

Beyond the Victoria Cup, Dixon said plans were coming together well for Leap To Fame’s first trip to NZ.

The thought of both Leap To Fame and Just Believe racing on NZ Cup Day is tantalising.

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Great Southern Star winner Callmethebreeze (Trixton) returned with a terrific Melton win last night.

The former French trotter was first-up since his second to Just Believe in the inaugural TAB Trot at Cambridge on April 12.

And Callmethebreeze was also having his first start for new trainer Andy Gath after a split between owner Pat Driscoll and former trainer Anton Golino.

Gath is now two-from-two with Driscoll trotters after star mare Im Ready Jet won her first start for the stable a week earlier.

“What a privilege to have two trotters this good join the stable,” Gath said. “We’re still learning about both of them, so it’s great to get wins with them first-up.”

Gath confirmed the pair would stay in Victoria rather than chase races like the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot and Inter Dominion series in coming months.

Callmethebreeze sustained a long three-wide run without cover to rundown a gallant leader, One Over All, and won by 4.9m in a 1min58.8sec mile rate for 1720m.

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Champion trainer Emma Stewart will have a record three runners in the world’s richest harness race, next Saturday night’s $2.1mil TAB Eureka.

Untapped four-year-old High Above, a half-brother to former star Ride High, picked up a slot yesterday to join stablemates Major Delight and Bay Of Biscay.

Stewart confirmed Kerryn Manning would drive High Above, Ashleigh Delosa would take the reins on Major Delight and Cam Hart would be aboard Bay Of Biscay.

The other trainer with multiple runners is Luke McCarthy, who has Eye Keep Smiling and Don Hugo.

“I’ll wait until the barrier draw (Monday) before deciding who I drive,” he said.

The last slot filled for the race went to classy Queenslander Sure Thing Captain, who brilliantly won at Menangle last night.

Boom WA pacer Never Ending is the $2.40 pre-draw favourite.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing New Zealand