Just Believe. Photo by Stuart McCormick
CHAMPION trotter Just Believe will “give the others a chance” and bypass the next and third leg of Australia’s Trotting Masters’ series.
The globetrotting hero reasserted his dominance with an almost unbelievable win in the second leg of the series, last Saturday night’s $75,000 Group 1 Australian Trotting Grand Prix at Melton.
It was a “sweet” win for his connections on many levels.
Just Believe suffered a rare defeat, in fact his only defeat since returning from Sweden last year, when nabbed in the final stages of the Group 1 Great Southern Star by French-bred European import Callmethebreeze at his previous run at Melton on February 3.
But the import couldn’t repeat the dose, over racing in front and tiring for fourth in the Grand Prix.
In contrast, one of the best and most daring drives you would ever see enabled Just Believe to get clear just in time – some felt too late – and rocket home to snatch victory from emerging star Arcee Phoenix in the last stride of the Grand Prix.
An all too modest driver Greg Sugars said after the win: “He’s amazing. Full credit to the horse. I think I probably let him down more than I helped him in that race. I don’t think that was my best effort to be honest. He is a champion and he got the job done.”
The win, along with Just Believe’s second placing in the Great Southern Star, took the eight-year-old back to the top of the Trotting Masters’ points table on 160, 40 points clear of Callmethebreeze. Arcee Phoenix is third on 70.
Trainer-driver Chris Svanosio said Arcee Phoenix would head to Menangle on Saturday week for the third leg of the series, the $100,000 Hammerhead.
Provided Callmethebreeze comes through last Saturday night, he will tackle the same race.
It’s fair to say connections of both will be pleased Just Believe, who ran second to Aldebaran Zeus in last year’s Hammerhead, will be at home in box when this year’s race is run.
