There’s only one Gavin Lang – Sugars
“THEY weren’t the biggest races in the world, but they all meant that little something extra.”
Fresh from winning five races at Tabcorp Park Melton last weekend, Greg Sugars followed up with a treble at the same venue tonight.
While his haul was down in numbers, the satisfaction behind the wins was greater for Sugars.
“The first half of the night didn’t go so well and I was thinking this was turning into a disaster,” Sugars said.
“Thankfully the second half, particularly one very special win, went a lot better and I was able to do justice to those I was honouring.
“They weren’t the biggest races in the world, but they all meant that little something extra.”
Sugars initial win carried a huge amount of sentiment as he wore Gavin Lang’s colours in what is potentially the last time the legend’s silks will make their way into the winners’ circle.
Widely-regarded as the finest driver to grace a sulky in the southern hemisphere, Lang lost his gallant battle with a rare form of Lymphoma yesterday.
As a tribute to the dual Harness Racing Weekly Vin Knight Medallist, Sugars sported the colours while driving Like A Wildfire, which Lang trained before becoming ill.
Producing a Lang-esque drive, Sugars came with a well-timed run as Like A Wildfire grabbed the lead in the last stride to score by a half-neck.
Prepared by premier horsewoman Emma Stewart, for whom Lang drove a host of Group One winners, Like A Wildfire rated 1:55.9 over 1720 metres.
“There was a lot of emotion attached to that victory,” Sugars said. “I was very pleased to get that over and done with on the right note.
“Gavin is my idol and pretty much from the time I wanted to be a driver, he was who I wanted to be.
“That was never going to happen, because there’s only one Gavin Lang, but I’m pretty proud I did his colours justice tonight.”
Sugars then teamed with his wife, Jess Tubbs, to score with stable favourite Little Peanut.
Along with the joy of having the son of Blissfull Hall win, Sugars wore the special ANZAC Rising Sun colours.
“It was a big honour to be bestowed the duty of wearing the ANZAC silks,” Sugars said. “Like I said, the start of the night was a bit of a disaster, so to be able to get the win in honour of our service men and women was a great feeling.”
Sugars completed his treble when comeback pacer Poster Boy scored first-up from an 11-month absence.
Reminiscent of the ‘Digger spirit’, Poster Boy overcame seemingly impossible odds to make his racing return.
Scoring in Melton last May, the son of Somebeachsomewhere became seriously ill in what was diagnosed as a severe bout of pneumonia which nearly claimed his life.
Nursed back to health, the Stewart-trained stallion outstayed his rivals to complete a two-metre win from War Dan.
Love Ina Chevy, which also spent a stint at death’s door as the result of a snake bite, was three-and-a-half metres away third in 1:54.1 over 1720 metres.
“To drive a horse like Poster Boy is what you dream about…he’s a star,” Sugars said. “To come back from what he went through and win like that shows what kind of heart he has.
“The scary part is he will get better as he gets fitter.”