08 March 2021 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
He has raced at the top level for most of his career on both sides of the Tasman, but the Jess Tubbs-trained Triple Eight stamped himself as a main player in Saturday night’s Group 2 Tasmania Cup after an impressive heat win on Sunday in Hobart.
Off his 30-metre handicap, the $1.28 favourite stepped away brilliantly in the 2579- metre event and was able to work around the field to find the lead with 1800-metres to travel.
From there, the gelded son of American Ideal was always going to be hard to catch.
Driver Greg Sugars never had to pull the earplugs over the concluding stages when defeating Bullys Delight and Cool Water Paddy.
“He stepped away good, which was his go in New Zealand, so that was no worries for us, and once he circled the field and found the top, he was always going to be hard to beat,” said Sugars after the race.
“He has raced at the top level for most of his career in New Zealand, and you would have to say it is one of the easier assignments he has had for some time, but having said that having to come off 30 metres and having to circle the field does level the playing field a lot and they were pretty solid quarters we carved out all the way,”
The lead time was run in 77.5s before quarters of 31.1s, 29.6s, 29.2s and 28.9s for a time of 3m 16.3s (MR 2m 1.1s) which was faster than that of last weeks winner Willie Go West who ran 3m 16.9s.
Sugars is looking forward to Saturday’s Final, where a capacity field of 14 runners and one emergency will do battle once again over the 2579-metre trip.
“He still has to go pretty good to get the job done on Saturday, that’s for sure,” said Sugars.
“Willie Go West was pretty impressive in his heat last week, and you would think he would be improved on that run too, with an extra week under his belt going into it. It won’t be easy to catch him, but we will give it a crack,” added the winning driver.
The barrier draw for Saturday’s Group 2 event will be released on Tuesday afternoon.
The Sugars and Tubbs combination will also look to take home Saturday’s Group 3 Tasmanian Oaks after Momentslikethese made light work of her rivals in Sunday’s Three Year Old Fillies Championship.
From the pole draw, the $1.20 favourite held the lead and made light work of her rivals in a mile rate of 2m 1.2s.
“She was first-up tonight and probably needed that hit out, so to do a bit of work early and still finish off, I was pretty pleased with the run,” said Sugars.
It has been a busy weekend for Sugars.
He drove at Menangle in Sydney on Saturday night before his Tasmanian raid on Sunday.
On Monday, he will make the trip to Horsham in Victoria’s west to compete in Noel Smith Memorial Invitation Drivers Championship, where he will take on Tasmanian born Jack Laugher.
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