SUPERSTAR Victorian trotter Just Believe is “as good as he’s ever been” as he prepares to jet-out Tuesday night to the other side of the world for the huge Elitloppet trot in Sweden later this month.
Co-trainer and driver Greg Sugars confirmed he would accompany Just Believe on the entire travelling odyssey that will get him to Stockholm about 60 hours after he leaves Melbourne.
“It’ll be with him every step of the way, which is pretty cool. I think there’s 40 horses on the flight out of Melbourne and 36 of them are Sheik Mohammed’s Arabian show horses, so there will be plenty of people on the flight, too,” he said.
Just Believe’s flight goes to Amsterdam, via Singapore. After a brief layover in Amsterdam, it’s on the road for a long trip through Denmark and up from Malmo in Sweden’s south to the stables of Hall of Fame trainer Stig H Johansson, just outside Stockholm.
“We’ll get there about nine days before the Elitloppet. The first day or so we’ll just let wander around a paddock, then decide what work he needs to do before the big day.
“They’ve said we can access the Solvalla track whenever we want to have a look around and work him in there. I’m told it’s not from Stig’s farm.”
Just Believe will go into the Elitloppet without having raced since March 4 when second at Menangle.
“Ideally, we’d have had that lead-up we planned a couple of weeks back, but the race didn’t stand-up so we gave him that second trial instead.
“We’ve been really happy with him at home and he worked extra well Saturday morning.
“I’d say he’s as good as he’s ever been since we got him. It’s great to feel that way heading into a trip like this.
“I don't think his fitness will be an issue.”
Sugars had an injury scare a week ago when he strained an old shoulder tendon injury, but said he was much better now.
“The doctor said to rest it, so I didn’t drive a horse for a week. But I hopped behind Just Believe on Saturday and it all went well,” he said.
Sugars’ wife, Jess Tubbs, acknowledged the enormity of the challenge ahead of Just Believe.
“It’s one of the world’s great races and we know how strong the opposition will be,” Tubbs said. “But our guy has just kept stepping-up to every challenge we’ve thrown at him so far. This is by far the biggest.”
Just Believe will become only the third Aussie-trained trotter to contest the Elitloppet. The previous two – Sundons Gift (2009) and Maori Time (2018) – didn’t qualify for the final, which is run at the same meeting as the two qualifying heats.
Even Down Under’s greatest trotter since 2000, the mighty Lyell Creek only finished fifth and didn’t make the final of the Elitloppet in 2001.
“We’re going to need everything to go right,” Tubbs said. “For him to come through the trip well, which we think he will because he’s a relaxed horse and travels well. Then we’ll need a good draw and luck in the heat itself.”
Tubbs and Sugars will then have to quickly decide whether to head straight home after the Elitloppet or stay for another race or two in Scandinavia.
“There’s not a lot of options as far as flights go,” Sugars said. “We’re leaning towards staying. It’s a long way to go for just one raceday and there are a couple of good options for him two weeks after the Elitlopp,” Sugars said.
· Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
