From poster child to somewhat forgotten back-rower in the space of a fortnight, A Gs White Socks hasn’t been prominent in Del-Re National A. G. Hunter Cup conversations but the man with the reins in hand has lost no confidence.
Greg Sugars, who guided the Kiwi to an all-the-way win in the Group 1 PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup on January 18, says the Greg and Nina Hope-trained pacer should only be improved come tonight’s $500,000 feature.
“These races are always very hard to win no matter where you are (drawn),” Sugars told Trots Talk. “Very happy with what the horse was able to do at Ballarat, he come off quite an interrupted preparation, the travel over and all that wasn’t ideal for him leading in to Ballarat and he obviously performed quite well.
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“He seems to have settled in and trained on even better. Obviously we are going to need some good fortune, as always in these sort of races, but the horse is going to go into the race in tip top order.”
Sugars will also pilot Sky Petite in the What The Hill Great Southern Star, an $81 chance who has regularly defied massive odds in big races.
“She’s a little pocket rocket really,” Sugars said. “I had my first drive on her last week and was quite unlucky being held up and I was hitting the line quite well. Her individual sectionals were pretty much as good as anything in the race.
“She’s no stranger to the big occasion, she ran second in the Inter Dominion (in 2018) and I’m pretty sure she ran third in the (Great) Southern Star as well. She runs the trip out no worries and when she’s on song she can match it with pretty much the best trotters around.
“She’s had four runs back this year, so she’s pretty close to peak fitness, we’re going to need a bit of luck of course but she’s certainly a knockout hope.”
Luck could make for a great night for the leading Victorian reinsman, but either way it’s sure to be one to remember.
“It’s always an exciting time of the year for all participants, just to be along and be at the races and watching the spectacle, to actually be out there and playing a part in it, it’s a very special time.”
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