Harness racing driver Greg Sugars scored a winning treble at Tabcorp Park Melton on Friday night.
Victoria’s leading reinsman guided home short-priced favourites Goodtime Sammy in the Geoff and Lorraine Barnes Youthful Stakes and Illawong Helios in the Carbine Chemicals Vicbred Trot, and also scored aboard a $15.90 shot in Classy Guy in the Swift Signs Pace.
Goodtime Sammy (Somebeachsomewhere/Graces Beach) made it two wins to start his career with a 7.9-metre win in the 1720m Youthful Stakes from gate six, rating 1:56.7.
Rocknroll Gold (Nathan Jack, $18) and Soho Lexington (Michael Stanley, $7.20) filled the placings.
Five-year-old gelding Classy Guy (Union Guy/Classy Dream) found the front in Race 5 from the 1720m start despite a gate seven draw and held off all challengers late for a 2.1m win over Saint Flash (Chris Alford, $6.90) and Lombo Flashlight (Jodi Quinlan, $18.60).
The Angela McDonough-trained pacer rated 1:54.4.
Four-year-old mare Illawong Helios made it seven wins from 15 starts with a 9.3-metre win in the last race on the card, the Ross Sugars-trained daughter of Majestic Son/Shining Sun beating home Guiltless (Nathan Jack, $5) with Maybelina (Gavin Lang, $13.10) 33m off the winner in third place.
The winner started $1.30 and rated 1:59.1.
High-class four-year-old mare Bettor Downunder (Bettors Delight/Trebla Trebla) made it two enormous wins straight for trainer Steven Loftus and reinsman Michael Stanley.
She won by 29.7m despite an outside-back-row draw over the 2240m.
Bettor Downunder has now won her past two starts by an aggregate margin of 74.8m.
Punters cashed in, the winner starting $1.40, with Mister McKinnon (Courtney Slater, $20.20) second and Flying McPocket (Anthony Butt, $8.20) third. The winner posted a 1:57.4 mile rate.
>> VIDEO: Watch Bettor Downunder cruise to the easiest of wins
The Boss Man (five-year-old gelding by Bacardi Lindy out of Oh Yes Indeed) bounced back after some frustrating performances with a 1.5m win as a $1.70 favourite over Death Defying in the Benstud Standardbreds Trot over 2240m.
Scott Dyer drove the David Aiken-trained squaregaiter, who rated 2:00.7.
Death Defying (Nathan Jack, $11.40) is racing well and did a good job to run second from gate six, while Steal A Sixpence was third for Gavin Lang at $4.80.
Wonderful mare Steam Washed (Washington VC/Laura Lace) returned to the winners’ list in the Harness Breeders Vic Jodies Babe over 1720m.
Sent out at odds of $5.70, Steam Washed was taken straight to the lead for reinsman Chris Shinn early from gate five and held off Emma Stewart-trained pair Goodtime Marjie (Greg Sugars, $7.50) and Beauty Secret (Gavin Lang, $1.40fav), the winner rating 1:53.5.
Andy Gath’s talented three-year-old Bettors Delight/Kelly Maguire gelding Burnaholeinmypocket was ultra-impressive taking out the VHRSC 3YO Cup with Kate Gath in the sulky.
The $3.50 second-favourite found the lead early from barrier two before coming right away at the finish for a 17.2m success over runner-up Virgil Hilts (Lisa Miles, $32.50) with Goodtime Alltime (Courtney Slater, $75.80) third.
The winner’s mile rate was 1:57.3.
Alan Tubbs-trained Lierre Noir saluted the judge first in the feature event of the night, the Empire Stallions Vicbred Platinum Metropolitan Pace Final over 1720m.
The five-year-old mare by Bettors Delight out of Saabette was driven by Kerryn Manning and paid $9.70 for the win.
Odds-on shot Quick Draft (Chris Alford, $1.80) ran second, beaten a neck, with Echeveria (Kate Gath, $25.90) third. The winner’s mile rate was 1:54.4.
Adam Kelly and Gavin Lang combined to win the University Food Group Pace over 2240m with five-year-old McArdle/Tactile Franco gelding Tiago Bromac.
The $2.10 favourite outgunned runner-up The Noble Steed (Kerryn Manning, $4.90) and Heading North (Nathan Weightman, $25.30) in third in a rate of 1:57.1.
>> KEY NOTES FROM TABCORP PARK MELTON
– Greg Sugars notches a winning treble
– Bettor Downunder at her brilliant best again
– Steam Washed takes out Jodies Babe
– Burnaholeinmypocket ultra-impressive winning VHRSC 3YO Cup
– Lierre Noir takes out the G3 Vicbred Platinum Metropolitan Pace
– Quaddie: $1853 on Nos 7-2-2-3. Early Quaddie: $25.80 on Nos 13-5-6-5.
– Good Form Game Plan (goodform.trot.com.au): Outlay: $415. Return: $145.40.
>> Check out all the results and watch the replay videos from Tabcorp Park Melton
by Cody Winnell