Sugars to Dominate ID22 Night One

TOP driver Greg Sugars wants more after snaring his first Inter Dominion final last year.

And he’s got the firepower thanks to the emerging training force he and wife, Jess Tubbs, are with their four key runners heading into Saturday night’s start of this year’s Inter Dominion at Ballarat.

Sugars’ maiden Inter Dominion victory came with Maori Law at Menangle last year and he rates new stable star Just Believe as “at least as good” going into this year’s series.

Just Believe is one of three favourites Sugars and Tubbs have in their respective heats at Ballarat. The others are the big and raw former Kiwi trotter One Over All and dual Group 1-winning pacer Better Eclipse.

“Things couldn’t have turned out much better on paper for us on night one,” Sugars said. “Now we just need a bit of luck.

“All three really look to get their chance from good (barrier) draws.”

Sugars expects Just Believe to work forward from gate six and find the front in the first trotting heat.

“That’s Plan A. I can’t see them wanting to hold him out. Whether he leads or sits outside the leader, I’ll get the chance to control the race. Queen Elida is the danger with her speed at the end of her races,” he said.

“One Over All’s chances really rest with him. He can be his own worst enemy at times, but he’s drawn really well (gate three) in what looks the weakest of the three trotting heats.”

Just Believe, who ran third to Maori Law in last year’s final, has been a revelation with three wins and three seconds from just six starts since being transferred to Tubbs and Sugars’ stable.

“He’s a lovely racehorse, really tradesman-like and versatile. He’s so similar to Maori Law in many ways, he’s a quick beginner and can do some work if you have to,” Sugars said.

“I’d say he’s at least as good as Maori Law was at the same stage.”

Sugars admits he will be watching superstar Kiwi trotter Bolt For Brilliance with great interest in the second trotting heat.

“He’s clearly the one to beat in the series at his top, but he’s obviously had some issues of late. Tony Herlihy wouldn’t be bringing him across if he wasn’t confident he was back on top of his game,” he said.

In the pacing series, Sugars believes Better Eclipse is “as good a chance as any” to win the December 10 final.

“That’s the mindset we’re taking into the series. It’s the most open pacing series I can remember, there’s no standout, no champion horse and Better Eclipse’s best form is as good as any of them.

“We’re very happy with him going into it and it’s great to have barrier one on opening night. Whether he leads or sits behind them, he’s going to get an easy run and be a big winning chance.”

Stable favourite Triple Eight, lining-up in his third Inter Dominion, is the outsider of their quartet in the series.

“We were scratching our heads after he disappointed at Yarra Valley last time, but his work here (Tuesday) was very good, right back to his best, so it’s boosted our spirits. If he could make the final again it would be fantastic,” Sugars said.

• Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.