Victorian star Just Believe will take on the world’s best trotters in the iconic $1.8mil Elitloppet in Sweden next month.
The Jess Tubbs-trained trotter will become just the third Australian-trained runner – all of them Victorian – in the Elitloppet.
Sundons Gift was the first in 2009 for Chris Lang, while the Brent Lilley-trained Maori Time contested it in 2018.
Neither made the final.
Like Victoria’s top trotting race, the Great Southern Star, the Elitloppet consists of two eight-horse heats with the first four from each qualifying for the final on the same race card.
Just Believe’s invitation is great vindication for Victoria’s commitment to the trotting gait.
“Today is such an exciting moment for the Victorian harness racing industry,” Harness Racing Victoria CEO Matt Isaacs said.
“We’ve seen the incredible ascent of Just Believe, including wins in ID22 and the Great Southern Star, and we are beyond thrilled to watch when he takes on some of the world’s best trotters in one of the sport’s most famous races.
“A heartfelt congratulations to Jess Tubbs, Greg Sugars and the owners in the Iona Trotting Syndicate, and to Pat Driscoll and the Yabby Dam Farms team, who bred Just Believe and have done so much to grow the quality and profile of trotting in Victoria.
“It further underlines the importance on a global scale for the strong support Victoria gives to the trotting gait.”
The Elitloppet is run at the Solvalla track in Stockholm on May 28.
Tubbs said she and husband Greg Sugars, who will drive their star in the Elitloppet, were blown away by the invitation.
“We’ve always watched the Elitloppet and been in awe of the incredible crowd and the atmosphere surrounding the event,” Tubbs said.
“It’s hard to believe we are actually being given the chance to be there, let alone compete with a horse of our own.
“To think we’re about to take our boy ‘Harry’ (Just Believe’s stable name) all the way to Sweden to compete against some of the best horses in the world is just an amazing feeling.
“We have travelled horses around Australia before, but this is a whole new ball game.
“Whilst it’s extremely daunting, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and we are so incredibly grateful to be given the chance.”
Just Believe’s invitation follows a whirlwind eight months since being transferred to Tubbs.
During that time, he has raced 16 times for 10 wins, five seconds and a third.
His major triumphs have been in last December’s Inter Dominion final and the Great Southern Star final on February 3.
Both races were at Melton.
Managing owner Malcolm Wells said the Elitloppet invitation continued a “whirlwind ride” for the 27 people in the Iona Trotting Syndicate, which races Just Believe on lease from Pat Driscoll’s leviathan Yabby Dam Farms operation.
“We always knew he had special potential, but this past eight months has been amazing,” Wells said.
“There are 27 of us in the syndicate, ranging from 2.5 per cent to 20 per cent shareholders, and already 14 of us are locked-in to go to the Elitlopp.
“Every mountain we’ve put in front of him so far he’s climbed. I know this is by far the biggest mountain, but I’m sure he’ll represent Victoria and Australia very well.
“No Aussie has won the Elitloppet or even made the final yet. We’d love to be the first and just being part of it will be amazing.”
Solvalla’s Sports General Anders Malmot, the man charged with recruiting horses from around the world for the Elitloppet, said Just Believe would add another dimension to the build-up and the race itself.
“We look to have the best field and the most interesting race, and Just Believe will add a lot to this year’s race,” he said.
“We’re also keen to continue to grow the profile of the Elitloppet around the world and we’re excited to think lots of people around Australia will be watching the race through Sky Racing because Just Believe will be part of it.”
Just Believe will have 60 hours of plane, road and boat travel to get to the stables of Hall of Fame trainer Stig H Johnasson, where he will be based for his Elitloppet campaign.
