Catch up on the week’s harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.
THE GOOD
The Larajay Farm operation of Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars secured more feature success at Albion Park on Saturday night when they claimed the Garrard’s Sunshine Sprint with their stable star Better Eclipse.
Following on from his courageous second to Ladies In Red in the Rising Sun seven days prior, Better Eclipse was well supported in the market and was sent out as favourite for the sprint.
As Turn It Up speared across to lead from barrier three, Sugars was patient early and was not bothered and sat parked one-out through the opening 500 metres of the race.
With Majestic Cruiser looming up as the field entered the home straight on the first occasion, Sugars then rolled forward and, with some pressure starting to be applied, worked to the front as Turn It Up released with 1000 metres to travel.
Controlling the tempo beautifully down the back straight in a steady 29.1 quarter, Sugars held all the aces and was able to play the winning hand with a 26.9 closing split, putting the race out of reach of the chasing pack.
Spirit Of St Louis was able to dart along the passing lane to grab second place after being positioned three back in the run, with the Shane Graham-trained and driven Turn It Up, holding on for third.
It has been a successful season for Better Eclipse (pictured), winning three races, placing on three other occasions from just seven starts, and banking close to $400,000 in stakes for the term.
Tubbs and Sugars received the Betterthancheddar gelding mid-way through 2021 as the winner of one race, and he has continued his rise at every step.
“When we first got him, we went to Mildura for an easy kill with him and he just fell in and it sounds silly now,” said Sugars of the now dual Group 1 winning pacer.
“He’s incredible, you throw him in the deep end, and he measures up each time.
“This guy loves challenges and keeps rising to it.”
That next challenge will be this week’s TAB Blacks A Fake where the 4YO has drawn inside the second line to follow-out stablemate Triple Eight.
The Larajay operation came to Queensland with three horses and all three have paid their way, with Triple Eight successful in last week’s Mr Feelgood Open, before trailing home the field in the Sunshine Sprint, albeit under 10 metres.
Momentslikethese is the third of the trio with last season’s Queensland Oaks winner finishing second in both starts at The Creek this campaign.
Finishing four metres from Maajida in the Fleur De Lil Ladyship, the daughter of Art Major went within a neck of claiming her second G1 success when runner-up to Town Echo in the Garrard’s Golden Girl.
Set to contest the Queen of Hearts this Saturday, the Winter raid by Tubbs and Sugars may well have yet another chapter to add.
THE BAD
It was a tough night for favourite backers at Albion Park, with just three of the 10 races claimed by those at the head of the markets.
Not only was it lean pickings early, but it took until race eight when Better Eclipse ($3.60) saluted in the Sunshine Sprint that the first favourite claimed victory, with Jewel Melody ($1.09) and Hez Dusty ($1.75) able to ease the pain somewhat in the following two races.
Race caller Chris Barsby summed up the situation perfectly, following the defeat of Maajida in the Group 1 Golden Girl, “It is the Bermuda Triangle for favourite punters here tonight”.
Amore Vita was forced to work hard from a second line gate in the South East Oaks and found a spot outside the leader, Steno, with 1200 metres to travel.
Left flattened in a 26.7 third split down the back stretch, the Nathan Purdon-trained filly and $1.75 chance could offer no more after being keen in the run, finishing fifth behind Racy Roxy.
The Grant Dixon-stable caused the boilover in the Oaks, but were on the other end of the verdict in the South East Derby.
Starting a well-supported $1.40 elect, Leap To Fame sat outside the leader Dangerzone throughout, and fought all the way to the wire, finishing a neck astern Cantfindabettorman (pictured, far right)who used the passing lane.
In the 4YO Championship, the Emma Stewart-trained Beyond Delight looked like one of the brightest winning prospects on the entire card.
However, the entire was never comfortable and faded to finish at the tail of the field at a $1.33 quote. Sumomentsomewhere made the most of his good gate to claim the Group 3 feature.
One race later and it was a case of double pain for the Stewart stable, their star mare and race favourite Maajida was turned over at the prohibitive odds of $1.15.
After being crossed at the start from gate one, Maajida was buried away three back along the inside and suffered further inconvenience with a flat tyre.
It was the Jack Trainor-trained and driven Sweet Echo that was able to capitalise on a perfect run in the one-by-one trail and score in the Group 1 feature at $81.
THE WILDCARD
Bernie Hewitt continued a highly successful season when he partnered Jewel Melody, a pacer he also trains, to victory on Saturday night in the APG Brisbane Sales Graduate 2YO Pace.
The win was the fifth Group 1 training success for the season for Hewitt and the seventh of his career.
For Jewel Melody, the richly talented filly has now secured three of those G1 victories for Hewitt, adding Saturday’s APG feature to her Menangle APG Gold Bullion and Bathurst Gold Tiara victories.
Finding the front soon after the start of the 1660 metre event, Hewitt secured a steady opening half of 61.1 with splits of 29.3 and then a steady 30.8.
Livening it up down the back with a 28.2 third quarter, the favours were firmly in favour of Jewel Melody (pictured), as Hewit brought the filly home in a closing split of 27.4 seconds to record victory by 18.8 metres.
Just like the prelude the week before, it was the Jarrod Alchin trained and Cam Hart driven My Ultimate Jacko that finished in second position, with Maywyns La Nina for trainer driver Kelli Dawson finishing in third.
Owned by Wayne and Julie Loader, Jewel Melody was a $40,000 purchase from the Brisbane APG yearling sale in 2021, with her latest victory taking her earnings to a tick under $250,000.
The daughter of Captaintreacherous now has six wins, with two victories each at Bathurst, Menangle and now Albion Park in 10 career outings.
With plenty of features on offer this season, the next of those will be the QBRED Triad Final on August 20, with the filly already qualifying for the Final.
THE MILESTONE
Angus Garrard has recorded 100 driving wins in a season for the third successive year- amazingly at in just his third full season of driving.
Currently on target to eclipse the mark he set last season of 164 wins; Angus has reached tripled figures with five months left in the term.
The century was achieved at Redcliffe on Thursday afternoon when he steered Jilliby Jackpot (pictured) to victory for trainer and father, Daren Garrard.
Sliding into the one out, one back trail from gate three, a solid tempo unfolded as Tee Ravelling and Golden Sand were locked in battle at the front of the pack.
Moving off the back of Golden Sand as the field swung for home, Jilliby Jackpot responded to Garrard’s urging in the stretch and put her head in front when it mattered, to claim victory over the fast-finishing Gabbys Sportstar.
Stopping the clock in a 1.56.3 mile-rate, the win set a benchmark for Jilliby Jackpot in claiming his 11th career victory.
On Friday at Albion Park, Garrard moved to 101 winners for the season when he steered the Stewart Dickson-veteran Lancelot Bromac to another victory.
Stepping out for career start 465, the 12-year-old responded in the stretch to pinch victory by a head – his 32nd career win.
Following Pete McMullen and Nathan Dawson into the ‘hundred club’ for Season 2022, Garrard currently sits 25 wins adrift of second-placed Dawson in the State Premiership, with a 22-win buffer off equal fourth-placed Matt Elkins and Narissa McMullen.
THIS WEEK
There are six successive days of harness racing in Queensland, heading towards the biggest night of the year, the TAB Blacks A Fake.
Redcliffe start the week with a Monday night fixture that will be complemented by a Wednesday night and a Thursday afternoon meeting.
At The Creek, there will be an eight-race card on Tuesday, a Friday afternoon meeting before Saturday’s huge night.
The $355,000 TAB Blacks A Fake will highlight the night where four Group 1 events will be decided.
Complementing the Grand Circuit Blacks A Fake will be the Queensland Derby, Queensland Oaks and the Queensland Trotters Cup.
Also, to be decided will be the JC McMullen held at Group 3 level, while for the mares the Listed Queen Of Hearts over 1660 metres will be held.