By Michael Howard (HRV)<\/p>\n
If there was any doubt \u2013 and surely there wasn\u2019t \u2013 that 2023 belonged to team Just Believe, the Larajay Farm stable delivered the most decisive exclamation point last night with an Inter Dominion domination.<\/p>\n
The brilliant trotter, whose year included capturing Victoria\u2019s prized Great Southern Star and transforming Australia\u2019s international trotting reputation in Europe, was in a class of his own at Albion Park, delivering Greg Sugars an extraordinary third successive trotting championship.<\/p>\n
His handsome victory also delivered back-to-back success to trainer Jess Tubbs, owners the Iona Trotter Syndicate, and breeder Yabby Dam Farms, who are sharing the ride with a growing army of fans that will continue to thrill in Just Believe\u2019s brilliance throughout the Victorian summer.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s incredible, that horse is just something special,\u201d Tubbs told Sky Racing. \u201cThe journey he has taken us on and continues to, he won with the ear plugs in and it\u2019s an Inter Dominion \u2013 it\u2019s just incredible.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome days (training is) all a bit too much, but then coming up here and going through what we\u2019ve been through tonight for so many excited owners and it just means the world to them and to us. We are so grateful for the support, and these are the moments we do it for.\u201d<\/p>\n
There were no surprises out of the gate on Saturday night, with Sugars happy to sit in the breeze with the short-priced favourite after Mufasa Metro\u2019s reinsman John Justice made his intention to take and hold the lead clear.<\/p>\n
With that pair at the front of the field none dared challenge and they were able to dictate a pedestrian pace, with Sugars not opening Just Believe up until the final half.<\/p>\n
A 27.8-second third quarter extended the field and had the favourite round the final bend on Mufasa Metro\u2019s outside, with Just Believe quickly putting paid to his main rival amid a 28-second last quarter in such convincing fashion that Sugars need not even reach for the plugs.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s my mate and he\u2019s done a super job tonight,\u201d Sugars told Sky Racing. \u201cHe\u2019s just a phenomenal horse. He\u2019s just got a never-say-die attitude.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven in a couple of races where things haven\u2019t gone to plan, he\u2019s never come off the track tired. He just runs through the line no matter where he is. He\u2019s just a very special animal and I\u2019m so proud of the job he\u2019s been able to do and everyone at Larajay Farm.<\/p>\n
\u201cJess has done an awesome job. She\u2019s the backbone of the stable and I\u2019m so proud to be able to celebrate this with her.\u201d<\/p>\n
It more than capped a special night for Larajay Farm after Better Eclipse ran a superb second to Leap To Fame in the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship.<\/p>\n
The winner was outstanding, reinforcing his brutal strength and speed that has reaffirmed that Grant Dixon\u2019s star is a generational horse with many more Grand Circuit moments to come.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Michael Howard (HRV) If there was any doubt \u2013 and surely there wasn\u2019t \u2013 that 2023 belonged to team Just Believe, the Larajay Farm stable delivered the most decisive exclamation point last night with an Inter Dominion domination. The brilliant trotter, whose year included capturing Victoria\u2019s prized Great Southern Star and transforming Australia\u2019s international […]<\/p>\n