Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars look to future with stable stars Better Eclipse, Enchauffour and Fighter Command

Things are a bit different since Just Believe’s retirement, but life goes on for Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars who have three new stable stars stepping out at an important meeting at Melton on Saturday night.

Greg Sugars and trainer Jess Tubbs. Picture: Supplied

Life after Just Believe is a bit different but just as busy for Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars.

The champion trotter was retired in January and Tubbs admits reflecting now gives her and Sugars an even deeper appreciation for Just Believe’s greatness.

“We were just talking about it as we watched the big trotting race at Cambridge last Friday, how amazing he was to do the work he did and win it last year,” she said.

“You’re so in the moment when you have a horse like him, always getting him ready for races and planning what’s ahead.

“Now have the time to really sit back and fully appreciate all the amazing things he did.”

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But life, and training a big team of horses from their Myrniong property goes on.

And Saturday is an important meeting at Melton when three of Tubbs and Sugars’ stable stars step-out, all with feature race targets ahead.

Multiple Group 1-winning pacer Better Eclipse is the headline act.

The much-travelled star returns from a spell in the 2240m free-for-all (race two) at Melton.

“The way the calendar is, he went a year or more with a week or two off here and there, rather than a spell as such,” Tubbs said. “So, after a busy 2024, we decided to give him a good break and miss a few of the big early races this year.

“He seems to have really enjoyed it. He is bright and sharp at home and raring to go.

“He’s got a bit of a sticky draw from inside the back row (gate eight), but it’s a good starting point.”

Better Eclipse (Jess Tubbs/Greg Sugars) produced a big finale from the back to win the opener at Melton - the Legend Popular Alm and Vin Knight Free For All - first-up from his Auckland Cup heroics in May. pic.twitter.com/DDOVgA4QCp

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) August 31, 2024

Better Eclipse is one of three runners Tubbs and Sugars have in the race, along with classy mare Rakero Rebel (gate one) and Rocknroll Hammer (six).

Although Tubbs said plans were yet to be finalised, a return to the Brisbane Inter Dominion in July looks logical if Better Eclipse returns in peak form.

Better Eclipse finished second to the great Leap To Fame, beating home Swayzee, when Brisbane last hosted the Inter Dominion final in December, 2023.

Tubbs and Sugars will kick-off the Melton card with one of their sentimental favourites, Fighter Command.

The untapped four-year-old is having his third start back from a life-threatening illness which forced him out of the TAB Eureka last September.

The best harness news of 2025 so far, budding star Fighter Command makes racetrack return @ClubMenangle Sat night.
Life in limbo with twisted bowel last Sept. Special moment for @LarajayFarm “All the signs are he’s as good as ever.” @TheTrotsComAuhttps://t.co/UY9HDvLZhQ

— Adam Hamilton (@AdamHSport) February 19, 2025

“He had those two runs back in Sydney and we decided just to give him another freshen-up after those,” Tubbs said.

“He’s still raw and needs to become more tractable and more of a racehorse, but we all know the ability is there.

“All going well, we’d love to take him back to the Beautide (in Tasmania) which is a qualifier for the TAB Eureka and then actually run in the big one itself this time.”

Fighter Command has raced just 14 times for nine wins.

The stable is also excited about the return of last season’s Breeders Crown 2YO winner Enchauffour in the eighth race at Melton.

Enchauffour wins at Melton in November last year. Picture: Stuart McCormick

“We both are, but Greg especially so,” Tubbs said. “This is his stable favourite at the moment. I guess we’re looking for a replacement for Harry (Just Believe).

“He’s a really exciting young trotter and this is a starting point towards the Derbys and other big races for him later in the season.”

Enchauffour raced six times in his freshman season for six three wins, headed by the Breeders Crown final, and a third in the Group 1 Redwood Classic at Maryborough.

• Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.

Originally published as Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars look to future with stable stars Better Eclipse, Enchauffour and Fighter Command