Can anything stop Victoria’s trotting powerhouse from completing a rare Inter Dominion double?
It would seem nothing except bad luck stands in the way of Just Believe and back-to-back clean sweeps of the time-honoured series, which this year is being held at Albion Park in Queensland.
The Jess Tubbs-trained star stretched his ID streak to six wins (four in 2022 and two in 2023) with Tuesday’s “death seat” triumph over fellow Victorian Plymouth Chubb and is now the $1.50 favourite for the December 16 final.
Just Believe won last year’s Inter Dominion decider at Melton and can join I Can Doosit (2011 and 2012), Sundons Gift (2009 and 2010), Take A Moment (2001 and 2003), Pride Of Petite (1996 and 1997) and Scotch Notch (1983 and 1985) as multiple trotting championship winners in seven days’ time.
Gun young driver Cam Hart partnered Plymouth Chubb on Tuesday night and gave some glowing commentary about Just Believe during this week’s episode of Harness Racing Victoria’s popular online show Burning Questions.
“I was just beaten by a better horse,” Hart said. “He’s a deadest champion, Just Believe.
“(Driver) Greg (Sugars) barely asked him to do it. He’s just a horse that wants to do it and it was super impressive.
“It’s hard to say that you could see him getting beat (in the final) to be honest – maybe a really bad barrier and a little bit of bad luck – but if he draws a good barrier, I’d say it’s all over for sure…”
Victorian-trained trotters hold the top five spots on the ID points leaderboard, with Just Believe and Ollivici on 28, Plymouth Chubb 25, Queen Elida 22 and Mufasa Metro 20.
In the pacing ranks, Queensland champ Leap To Fame heads the table on 29 points from Nerano (26), Just Believe’s stablemate Better Eclipse (26) and last month’s New Zealand Cup hero Swayzee (24).
The third and final round of heats take place tonight at Albion Park, with the top 12 points-scorers in both the pacing and trotting divisions then qualifying for next Saturday’s big Group 1 showdowns.
