Melton miracle lands a second Grand Prix

TIM O’CONNOR (HRV)

JUST Believe produced one of his most special performances to win a second-straight TAB Australian Trotting Grand Prix on Saturday night.

Driver Greg Sugars was overcome with emotion in the moments after the race, which saw his charge use every bit of the 2240m trip to snatch victory in the Group 1 feature at Melton.

There were fireworks tipped for the start of the Grand Prix and that’s just what occurred. Boom European import Callmethebreeze speared to the front from barrier four as Keayang Ignite also crossed Just Believe to put the red-hot favourite three back along the pegs.

It looked problematic and it proved to be just that for Sugars, who took until near the final turn to force his way clear of the inside as Arcee Phoenix established what looked a winning margin.

But, despite being some three lengths off Chris Svanosio’s squaregaiter at the 200m mark, Just Believe knuckled down and produced a blistering sprint to grab his rival right on the line.

The photo finish triumph was a special one for Sugars, who wiped away tears as the 27-time winner returned to the presentation area.

“He’s amazing,” Sugars said.

“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.”

Just Believe’s earnings soared past $1.1million with the victory and he now leads the head-to-head battle with Callmethebreeze 2-1 after his new-found rival pulled hard in front before giving ground over the concluding stages to finish a well-beaten fourth.

Earlier in the night, Chris Alford was forced to work overtime to win his 33rd race with the great Queen Elida in the Lyn McPherson Memorial Breed For Speed Gold Series Final.

The star mare was caught wide through the early stages from gate seven and eventually worked to the spot outside leader Revelstoke, who gave an almighty kick in the home straight but couldn’t stave off trainer Brent Lilley’s trotter.

Queen Elida prevailed by a neck over Revelstoke, with Illawong Stardust third for Tony Peacock and Shannon O’Sullivan.

Alford was full of praise for the six-year-old, but felt there was something “niggling” the daughter of Love You.

“She’s obviously still not quite where she was probably six months ago, but she just has that unbelievable will to win,” Alford said.

“She was never going to catch the leader until about the last three strides and she just stuck her head out.”

Alford has been behind Queen Elida in all of her career victories, with the horse’s prizemoney earnings now up above $750,000.

A trip across the Tasman for the inaugural TAB Trot is on the horizon for both Queen Elida and Just Believe, who will do battle at Cambridge on April 12.

Queen Of Quebec provided a special moment for comeback driver Ross Payne when she prevailed in the Lyn McPherson Memorial Breed For Speed Silver Series Final, with Rockford Peach taking out the Bronze decider for owner-trainer-driver Lisa Miles.

Payne, 67, was having just his second drive back from heart surgery in the $20,000 feature and the result completed a winning treble on the night for trainer Chris Svanosio.