AUSSIE trotting star Just Believe has thrived since his Elitloppet heartbreak and will stay in Sweden for his race.
Co-trainer and driver Greg Sugars said quarantine complications would prevent Just Believe travelling to Norway for the Oslo Grand Prix.
“If he goes there, it would add an extra 60 days to our stay over here for quarantine purposes,” he said. “So, he’ll have one, probably two more races here and they’ll be in Sweden.”
The $250,000 Jamtland Stora Pris, an eight hour drive from Stockholm, is Just Believe’s next target in Ostersund on Saturday week.
“All going well in that, he’ll go to Boden, which is about another four hours away, the week after and that’ll be it for him over here,” Sugars said.
The Boden race is the Norbottens Stora Pris. Both it and the Ostersund race are 2100m mobile start features.
The race is known as the “Race in the Midnight Sun” because it’s so far north in Sweden there is almost 24 hours of daylight at that time of year it’s run.
“I think the tempo of 2100m will be ideal for him over here and suit him better than the mile racing,” Sugars said.
Sugars is flying solo with wife, Jess Tubbs, jetting back to Melbourne to run their blossoming Myrniong stable.
“Right through the trip, ‘Harry’ (Just Believe’s stable name) has handled the trip better than me,” Sugars said.
“He’s come through last Sunday’s race really well. He seems bright and alert.
“He’s pretty amazing. We’re so proud of how well he handled everything and continues to do so.”
Just Believe was travelling strongly before being tightened for room, clipping a wheel and galloping out to last in his heat of the iconic Elitloppet at Solvalla in Stockholm last Sunday.
Sugars said he was still hurting from the disappointment.
“I’m still struggling not to feel like a failure in what was one of the biggest moments of my career,” he said.
“But the support Jess and I have had from people at home has been quite overwhelming and helped get through the disappointment.
“We’ve also taken strength from the number of clubs over here who approached straight after the race and asked us to stay and keep racing on here.
“They all said how well they thought he looked and competed before he broke.
“Bosses from Finland, Norway and three tracks in Sweden all asked us to come to their big races, which makes you feel pretty good and shows we’ve made a mark.”
Just Believe is booked a flight back to Australia in mid-July.
· Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
