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Seven-year-old journeyman Triple Eight will warm up for his first foray into Queensland with a first-up assignment at Tabcorp Park on Saturday night.
The Jess Tubbs-trained New Zealand native last raced in March when third in the Group 1 Ainsworth Free For All at Menangle and has returned from a break with three impressive trial wins at Melton.
The practice hit-outs have the son of American Ideal ready for the weekend’s Prydes Easifeed Pace, where he has drawn outside the back row in barrier nine.
Triple Eight, who won the Group 2 Casey Classic in January and last year’s Group 1 VHRC Caduceus Classic, is bound for Queensland, with regular driver Greg Sugars saying he would join stable stars Better Eclipse and Momentslikethese at the winter carnival up north.
Better Eclipse has been invited to compete in the $305,000 Group 1 The Rising Sun at Albion Park on July 9.
The Chariots of Fire winner has not raced since his last-start third in the Miracle Mile on March 12 and joined Triple Eight in a short spell at Tubbs and Sugars’ Myrniong property after returning from Sydney.
Sugars said Better Eclipse was still a couple of weeks away from a race start despite already having three trials under his belt.
Triple Eight, who will likely be aimed towards the Group 1 Blacks A Fake Queensland Championship at the end of the carnival, is one of the big guns making a comeback at Melton on Saturday night.
Nathan Purdon-trained Amore Vita is another that returns to the races from a break and will likely head to Queensland during this preparation.
The 2021 Vicbred Super Series 2YO Fillies champion was spelled following her third placing behind Just Hope in the NSW Oaks on February 26 and will tackle the Nutrien 3YO Pace at Victorian headquarters this weekend.
Another Group 1-winning star back at the races on Saturday night is The Pantheist for trainer David Miles.
The 2020 Breeders Crown 3YO Fillies Final winner will be driven by James Herbertson in the Allied Express Richmond Lass. That race, which also features Momentslikethese, is one of two Group 3 features on the metropolitan card, with the other being the I Didnt Do It Trotters Free For All.