Power finish for testy mare

By Michael Howard (HRV)

There was plenty of pride in the Larajay Farm camp after Copacabana rewarded her big group of Cranbourne Club 21 owners, trainer Jess Tubbs and reinsman Greg Sugars at Tabcorp Park Melton last Saturday night.

The four-year-old mare had to do it tough in the Colin Redwood Memorial Victorian Square Trotters Association Handicap Final but fought brilliantly to the line for a third win in five outings and the fifth of her 20-start career.

“This is one we’re actually quite proud of, what we have been able to achieve with this girl,” Greg Sugars told TrotsVision.

“She came to us with a real rogue nature and a couple of trainers had gone through her and she was banished and looked like she was never going to make a racehorse.

“We got her to the races in one prep, which was a bit of a surprise and she performed quite well throughout the prep,” he said.

“We were always quietly confident that once she got that education out of the way and had a good spell and matured a little bit she had the chance to turn into a handy mare.”

Sugars said her attitude’s got a lot better.

“She’s actually a really lovely mare to have around the place. Her attitude’s done a complete 180 and we’re starting to get results on the track because of it.”

That was how it played out, with Copacabana sitting outside Fling It Rainbow throughout even quarters and fighting on when favourite Love Gun attacked off the final bend.

The latter found the front but hung-in in the final 200 metres, threatening to encroach on Copacabana, which prompted his reinsman Chris Alford to correct him and Love Gun broke gait.

That opened the door for Copacabana to power to the finish, a win Sugars said was well deserved.

“(Love Gun) came very quick and poked his head in front, but no sooner that he hit the front it looked like his horse was under pressure and wanting to lay in, and my girl was still going strong at the one speed,” he said. “Even prior to him breaking I still had the thought I’m going to kick back and beat this one.”

It was one of two Sugars wins on the night, with the leading reinsman going two from two when guiding Sweet Louise to victory in the Nutrien Pace.

The mare was a handful pre-race and settled at the rear of the field but, after a frenetic early pace, she was able to make ground off the last bend and run past all in front of her to score by a half-neck from Eva Mateo.

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