By Michael Guerin
Canterbury trainer-driver Gavin Smith says it will be a painful privilege to honour his close friend Greg Sugars in Friday night’s Reharvest Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park.
Like many in the industry, Smith was left stunned by the shock news on Saturday that 40-year-old Sugars had passed away in his sleep.
Smith was close to Sugars, having spent plenty of time together over the years, even more so in the last year as Sugars campaigned Just Believe and Better Eclipse in New Zealand.
Sugars and his wife Jess Tubbs also trained One Over All during his Victorian career after Smith sent him across to them as a three-year-old.
“They helped make this horse,” says Smith.
“It has been a very tough week for me and I have really struggled with it, especially when I am not busy.
“So I wanted to do something to honour Greg.”
Smith asked Jess Tubbs if he could wear their racing colours when he partners One Over All in the Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park this Friday.
“Jess said yes and I am honoured to do it but now it is getting closer I realise it will be really emotional for me,” says Smith.
“This is the right race to do it in. This was the race last year they won with Just Believe and they then won the Auckland Cup as the very next race as they were both held on the same night last year.
“It was one of the biggest nights of their career and I want to remember Greg by wearing the colours and hope we can do him justice.”
This week was always going to be an emotional one at harness meetings right around Australasia and remembering Sugars will be an integral part of Friday night’s meeting, as it should be after the enormous involvement Sugars had with the New Zealand industry last year.
Earlier in the night Race 4 is named the “Remembering Greg Sugars – Fond Memories from 2024 – RIP” Mobile Pace.
The emotionally-charged meeting with its five black type races is the last major fixture of a huge autumn of racing in the north.
To see Friday’s fields at Alexandra Park click here
