Champion driver Greg Sugars and star Victorian trotter Just Believe have had their first look at the venue for Elitloppet, with the pair combining for a hit-out around the Solvalla circuit ahead of Sunday’s meeting.
Sugars gave the seven-year-old a searching run on Tuesday and provided some positive feedback about the experience.
“I was quite happy with his work,” Sugars said.
“I wanted to try and simulate a trial basically. I worked him over 2000m here and ran him the first furlong quite solid as if he was running out the gate, then backed off through the middle, and we dashed up the last 600m I suppose and ran a pretty good last quarter.
“Overall, I was pretty happy with his work. He’s a casual sort of horse when he’s by himself and probably doesn’t give 100 per cent at the finish, but that’s fine for a workout today. I was happy with what we saw.”
Sugars said there were no negatives to report in regards to Just Believe’s condition and how he’d settled into his new surrounds, and was hopeful he’d put his best foot forward when it came time to race on Sunday.
WATCH JUST BELIEVE AT SOLVALLA AND GREG SUGARS' CHAT WITH RYAN PHELAN BELOW:
Just Believe has drawn wide in barrier seven for his qualifier, with the TAB offering $11 for him to finish top four and progress to the final.
And despite his horse being the $300 overall series outsider in Swedish markets, Sugars says he is just happy to be involved in such a big occasion in world racing.
“I just had a few moments out there on the track today, just walking before the workout, and was just basically in awe of where I was,” he said.
“It really is the stuff dreams are made of - to make a trip like this - for any harness racing participant.
“Hopefully I can stop, take a breath, and not be overwhelmed by the situation (on Sunday) and just really take it in. And I’m sure if that’ll be the case, they’ll be lifelong memories.”
Just Believe will become only the third Australian-trained trotter to compete in Elitloppet on Sunday and can be the first to reach the final with a top four finish in his heat.
Victoria’s Luke Humphreys will call all the action from Solvalla for Sky Racing, with Just Believe’s heat scheduled for 11.28pm AEST.
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