For all his endearing personal qualities, Greg Sugars was also a truly special harness racing participant.

If just watching him around horses didn’t show you how gifted he was - his seemingly effortless demeanor and silky-smooth style in the sulky always present - a record boasting more than 4000 winners and over 60 Group 1s surely did.

Here, I reflect on five of my favourite Sugars moments across a wonderful 25-year career that started with humble beginnings at Globe Derby on October 31 of 2000 and grew into a worldwide crusade of excellence in the sport he loved.

SUSHI SUSHI’S NORTHERN DERBY WIN

By his own admission, during an interview with John Dunne following his 4000th Australian winner in February this year, Sugars' success with Freddy Taiba-trained Sushi Sushi in New Zealand’s 2011 Northern Derby was one of his most treasured achievements.

Sugars travelled across the Tasman to partner the then three-year-old, who won a heat of the series before a narrow all-the-way victory as favourite in the time-honoured Group 1 feature.

It was a special triumph with a horse that helped elevate his profile significantly, with Sugars and Sushi Sushi teaming up for 21 victories – including 16 in-a-row at one stage – in a glittering career that earned more than $1million in prizemoney.

EMOTIONS RUN HIGH AS GREG AND JESS CLAIM GROUP 1 GLORY

There were tears of joy in an emotional post-race interview as Greg Sugars and Jess Tubbs celebrated Triple Eight's VHRC Caduceus Classic success at Bendigo during the COVID season of 2021.

The usually cool, calm and collected Sugars raised his whip in triumph as the former New Zealander powered to victory in the $100,000 Group 1, and then choked up as he articulated just how special the win was for his family.

“We were lucky enough to win our first Group 1 with Momentslikethese earlier this year, which was sort of a bittersweet moment for us because we couldn't actually be there (in Queensland) to finish the job off for ourselves,” Sugars said.

“Full credit to Jess really. I've only driven this horse this preparation pretty much at the races, she's done all the work at home and I'm so proud of her.”

JUST BELIEVE “DIVES AND GOT HIM!”

Dan Mielicki roared “Greg Sugars has done it again!” after Just Believe sat parked for more than a lap and lunged late to defeat Majestuoso and win the 2022 Inter Dominion Trotting Championship Grand Final at Melton.

“Harry”, as he was affectionately known, had won all three of his heats in the series by leading, but overcame a tough back row draw to prevail in one of the sport’s iconic races.

Sugars’ almighty salute has stuck with me all this time later, and the victory really kick-started what would become an incredible run of dominance for “The Candyman” and Just Believe, one of harness racing’s modern day greats.

HARRY AND GREG DO IT AGAIN

Greg Sugars raising his right arm in triumph throughout the last 60m of the 2023 Inter Dominion Trotting Championship Grand Final at Albion Park is vision which will be etched into many harness racing fans’ memories forever.

Like he did a year earlier, “Harry” had made a clean sweep of his heat runs and won the Group 1 decider from the chair in another powerhouse display of dominance over his rivals.

Greg’s salute was perfect. Nothing arrogant, just a gesture befitting the moment – Just Believe was a star and had just joined the all-time greats with a second Inter Dom crown.

Picture: Racing Queensland

A HISTORY-MAKING TRIUMPH ACROSS THE TASMAN

For all his deeds in New Zealand and Sweden, perhaps Just Believe’s most meaningful overseas moment was in fact his last victory before retirement.

The hero squaregaiter claimed the 2024 Dominion Trot at Addington in dominant fashion, and in turn became the first Australian raider to win the race since Scotch Notch in 1983.

“The pride of Australia, now a legend of our sport,” caller Matt Cross cried. And wasn’t he right.

In a whirlwind journey that spanned a little over two years, Sugars would team with Just Believe for 29 wins, including two Inter Dominion Trotting Championship grand finals, a Great Southern Star Final, and the TAB Trot, National Trot, Rowe Cup and that famous Dominion Trot across the Tasman.

Picture: Harness Racing NZ.

The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.