La Machane (Greg Sugars) was in fine form during the Semi Final
There seems little doubt that the Group 1 SBG Accountants & Business Advisors Vicbred Super Series Final for freshman fillies this Friday night looms as being a family affair in more ways than one.
Fresh from scoring their first ever double when Secret Desire and La Machane claimed consequent Super Series semi-finals’ last week, industry stalwarts Jack and Nola Munnerley look set to dominate this weekend’s $100,000 decider after drawing one and five respectively with their flying fillies this weekend.
Add to the equation that gun, young Hopetoun Park horseman Greg Sugars handles La Machane, his pseudo sister-in-law, Amy Tubbs mentors Secret Desire and Amy’s father Alan has drawn between them with Blazeaway Macray (3) and it’s not hard to see how pedigree and prestige may combine both on and off the track this Friday night.
“I think running one-two with Jack and Nola’s fillies is the only way we’re going to keep everyone happy and the amazing thing is that it’s a realistic possibility with the way the draw’s panned out,” said Sugars, who is the partner of Amy's sister Jess.
“You really couldn’t wish for better owners. They’ve really put me on the map as far as the training goes, so it was just great for them to have such a special night last Friday; qualifying two top fillies in fine style the way they did.
“For them it’s just a dream come true to have two horses they’ve bred themselves contesting a Group 1 Final after such a long time in the industry and it’s obviously great to be part of that after they’ve been so good to me.”
While familial loyalties and enduring friendships will need to be put on hold for the best part of three minutes at Victorian harness headquarters, the esteem in which Sugars holds Secret Desire approaching this Friday’s 2240-metre feature is patent and clear.
But after recording the faster of two semi-final wins last weekend and only going under once behind his brilliant daughter of Bettors Delight through a seven start career, the revered local horseman is bullish he has the finest filly in the state – and that she can prove that fact by 8:45pm this Friday night.
“From what she’s done this season I think she can lay claims to being the best filly here (Victoria),” Sugars said. “Having said that, I don’t see her as being some sort of standout who’s just unbeatable at all.
“Last week was the first time she’s had to do her fair share of work in the run and she stepped up to the plate and handled it quite comfortably, but this weekend is a bigger challenge again.
“I think we all know that Amy (Tubbs) has a the speed to lead with Secret Desire and she’s yet to be beaten from the top but we’ll be up outside her pretty early on and the best horse will almost certainly come away with the prize. Fingers crossed it’s us.”
The Vicbred Super Series Final for two-year-old girls is the second of two Super Series’ Finals on Friday night, coming hot on the heels of the $100,000 Group 1 juvenile boys’ decider where Fly Like An Eagle will start a prohibitive favourite despite last week’s shock semi-final defeat
