Sugars guides Sushi home

Brilliant four-year-old Sushi Sushi staked a strong claim on forthcoming Victorian feature events when reinsman Greg Sugars guided him to an 8.2m win in a Melton Cup heat at Melbourne's Melton track on Friday night.

The gelding is unbeaten in two starts since a spell and his overall career record stands at 25 wins from 37 starts.

Sushi Sushi won the second Melton Cup heat from Saint Flash and Bet Your Life.

Trainer Fred Taiba has Sushi Sushi back to his best and he looks set to match the Australasian circuit stars.

Meantime, trainer-reinsman Dennis Picker is confident in-form Sydney winner Condagen is showing no effects of a long campaign and will be hard to beat again in Saturday night's 3YO Colts and Geldings New South Wales Breeders Challenge Regional Final (2030m) at Newcastle.

The gelding surprised when he started 30/1 and finished fast to beat a smart field over 1609m with Picker reining him in his last race, at Menangle.

"He's had 18 races in his current campaign, which began last December," Picker said. "But the horse produced the best performance of his career by rating 1:52.7 last start.

"He's won four races in his last 10 starts and has shown that he's a sit and sprint horse.

"Condagen's latest work is first-class and I plan to drive him patiently, waiting for a late run at Newcastle.

"However, I will spell him after Saturday night's race. I think he can go out on a winning note."

Leading Western Australian trainers Greg and Skye Bond have big plans for I'm Terrific, who produced an impressive performance to win the Bill Steer Memorial Pace (2100m) at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

They will aim him for the Group 1 Golden Nugget Championship at Gloucester Park in November.

Three-year-old I'm Terrific has won his past four races and was an astute purchase in New Zealand by the Bonds, who bought him on behalf of a syndicate.

"I'm Terrific will go for a spell either now, or after one more race," Greg Bond said. "We'll set him for the Golden Nugget.

"He's still immature and will be even better next time in."

Odds on favourite Western Cullen faded to finish fifth after racing outside the leader in the Steer Memorial.

Never Waver Lombo caused an upset in the Tom Thompson Memorial (2100m) when she flashed home to win by a half-head from odds on favourite Kamwood Laughter.

Byford trainer Ron Huston completed a winning double with Elite Angel (Cyriul Lilleyman Memorial) and Im Grant Lea (SEW Eurodrive Pace).

Elite Angel set the pace from gate one for reinsman Stephen Reed.

Im Grant Lea, who overcame gate six for reinsman Shannon Suvaljko, has been rejuvenated since a transfer to Huston's stable and appears to have more wins in store.

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