Electric eclipse powers

By Lachlan Mitchell (HRV)

Driven by Myrniong’s Greg Sugars and trained by wife Jess Tubbs, Better Eclipse went one better than his 2022 performance in the Cogs Services 4YO and 5YO Championship to win the Group 3 event at Melton’s Entertainment Park last Saturday night.

“He was pretty electric, I thought the leader had too good a run at the 400,” Sugars explained on TrotsVision.

“When I asked for the effort just before straightening up, he just went into another gear and I thought wow we’re in with another chance here.

“He’s a very talented horse – we know that – but at this level there’s not much between them all.”

Sugars combined with young trainer Leilani Justice to finish his night on a high, driving Deuce Coupe to a win in the final race on the card, the Centre State Printing 3YO Pace.

Although beaten in the Group 3 Championship, Kate and Andy Gath had a strong end to the evening with back-to-back winners. Terry managed to upset the favourite Ideal Escape with a dominant victory in the TAB Download The App Pace before Outlaw Man sat three-wide for much of the last lap to prevail in the Future Of Form Pace.

The theme of family didn’t stop with the Gaths, with Diamond Eclipse winning The Big Screen Company 2 Metro Win Pace in a photo for trainer-driver father-son duo John and Matt Newberry.