Sweet success for Myrniong duo

By Michael Howard (HRV)

A son of a gun has started to show some of mum’s zip with La Captain at Tabcorp Park on Saturday night, reeling off a third successive win for Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars, this time capturing the E K Bray Country Clubs Pace Final.
The four-year-old by Captaintreacherous is the second foal out of La Machane, who won $335,268 from 20 victories and 61 starts when trained by Sugars and his dad Ross.
“(La Machane) was obviously one of my favourites, really kick-started my training career and took us on a pretty good ride,” Sugars said.
“Thankfully got some of her progeny now and they’re going on with the job. Not to the same heights that she was at, but we’re getting there.”
La Puddie was La Machane’s first foal and has won 10 of 52, while three-year-old Machane Said has kicked off his career with trainer Jayne Davies and two-year-old Benbullan is yet to race.
They’ll do well to emulate La Captain, who returned from a short summer spell to turn his fortunes around this campaign, with a third straight salute after scoring in only three of his first 27 starts.
“Really happy with what he’s been able to do in his three runs this time in,” Sugars said.
“He’s probably been quite disappointing throughout most of his career. He was a bit gangly and raw and not the nicest gated horse, we always thought a little more time and he’s going to develop into something.
“This time around we are doing things a bit differently with him and at the moment he’s a far stronger, physical horse to look at and we’re getting the results.”
The result was one of two successes for Tubbs and Sugars on Saturday night having also scored with Cherokee Joe who scored in the Country Clubs Championship Final.
It was a particularly sweet result for owner and birthday boy Don Smith, who’s part of a big ownership group that’s enjoyed a good dose of success with the four-year-old gelding.
Cherokee Joe was driven a treat by Sugars, who capitalised on the brisk early pace to strike late and register the gelding’s 10th career win from 35 starts.
“Great to have (Don) involved in the stable and the Jarvis boys who have supported us for a long, long time, really good group of people in this horse.”