Gun reinsman Greg Sugars rates Bellas Delight the best of his Breeders Crown drives on Super Sunday at Melton
While Chris Alford would start skinny odds in a driver’s challenge market on Super Sunday at Melton, local reinsman Greg Sugars would surely be up there with Mark Purdon as next most likely to boot home multiple winners.
Sugars’ book of drives on the Breeders Crown finals program is sweet with in excess of $1.5million up for grabs across the 10-race card.
Headlining Sugars’ chances is champion four-year-old mare Bellas Delight, who’s shooting for nine straight wins in the 4YO mares’ final.
The Kari Males-trained daughter of Bettors Delight has taken all before her in recent times and at Thursday lunchtime was $1.50 fixed odds to win her second Breeders Crown final in succession after dominating the three-year-olds last year.
“She’s the pick of my drives,” Sugars said. “She’s clearly performing very well with eight wins in a row now.”
Twelve months after her first Breeders Crown success, Sugars said Bellas Delight had improved markedly as a four-year-old.
“She’s even stronger this year,” he said.
Asked about the main dangers on Sunday, Sugars said Darren Pace-driven polemarker Dream Verdict – who finished second behind Bellas Delight last time out – was the logical choice.
“From the draw you’d say Dream Verdict,” Sugars said. “Probably the next best horse in the race is the Kiwi (Victors Delight) but it’s drawn poorly.”
Alongside Bellas Delight at the start on Sunday will be New South Welsh pacer Tiger Tina, who boasts a four-race winning streak for Darren Hancock, while John Caldow’s drive, Miss Moonlight, is $7.50 with bookmakers from its second-row draw.
In the three-year-old colts and geldings final Sugars has picked up a plum drive on Mr Nickel.
Trained by man of the moment Mark Purdon, who had four winners on Breeders Crown semi-final night last Friday, Mr Nickel is on the fourth line of betting for Sunday’s race at $8.50.
Sugars is rapt to get the chance on the last start-winning son of Village Jasper.
“His form has been first class,” Sugars said.
“He’ll need a bit of luck from the second row, but he’s got the right trainer at the moment.”
Purdon will pilot in-form star Fly Like An Eagle from outside the front row in the three-year-old colts and geldings’ race, the New Zealander a clear $3.50 second favourite with the bookmakers behind another fellow Kiwi in Texican, who’s drawn one for trainer Cran Dalgety and driver Dexter Dunn.
Three-year-old filly La Machane will be out to go one better this year in her age group final after finishing second in the Breeders Crown two-year-old race last season.
Trained by Sugars’ dad Ross, La Machane has been consistent of late but is drawn outside the second row on Sunday.
“She’s an opportunist from the draw,” Sugars said.
“She’s up against it from barrier 13, but the draw takes all the pressure off and we’ll look for shortcuts and rely on others to do the work.
“I’m very happy with where she’s at and she should run well.”
La Machane is given little hope of winning by bookies, rated $35 on Thursday, with Emma Stewart pair Shake It Mama and Beauty Secret at the head of the market at $2.10 and $5 respectively, while Twist And Twirl, Marquess De Posh and Sensational Gabby are under double figures.
Sugars’ other drives on Sunday are ultra-consistent juvenile Hackashaq in the two-year-old trotters’ final, Flaming Flutter in the two-year-old colts and geldings final, Hall Of Famer in the four-year-old entires and geldings final, fourth favourite Our Femme Fatale in the two-year-old fillies final, and Jimmy’s Gem in the Blue Chip Farm Breeders Crown Graduates Cup.
