Champion trotter Just Believe became the first Australian bred trotter to earn $1m in prizemoney after taking out the V. L. Dullard Cup at Melton on Saturday night.
Sent out a prohibitive $1.08 favorite, Just Believe worked to the lead with 1600 meters to travel and it was left to outstanding mare Queen Elida to issue a challenge with 400 meters to travel.
Queen Elida got to the wheel of the Just Believe on straightening, however with Greg Sugars barely moving a muscle, Just Believe reeled off a slick 26.8 last 400 meters to score with plenty in reserve by two meters from Queen Elida.
“He’s just a wonderful horse and keeps getting the job done. he just loves racing and is such a pleasure to be around, “Sugars said.
“It’s been such a wonderful ride with this horse, it’s not only his race track deeds and what he’s achieved but its been the support we’ve received from right around the world and the people are really behind him and want to see him do well,” he said.
Sugars said the race provided a perfect final hit out in preparation for next week’s Group 1 Yabby Dam Farms Great Southern Star.
“Tonight you couldn’t have scripted it any better for him and it was just a beautiful little hit out to have him cherry ripe for next week,” he said.
Ironically, the win was Just Believes first success in the V. L. Dullard Cup after finishing third behind New Zealand trotter Majestic Man in the race last year.
The win was the Yabby Dam Farms bred eight-year-old’s 25th from 67 race starts.
Half an hour later Just Believe’s stable mate Better Eclipse too passed $1m in stake earnings after saluting in the Casey Classic completing a memorable night for Jess Tubbs’ and Greg Sugars’ Larajay Farm outfit.
Sugars opted to surrender the lead to Bulletproof Boy on the $1.45 favorite and await his chances along the sprint lane while his main danger the Mark Purdon trained Don’t Stop Dreaming landed in the one out one back trail.
Purdon made his move approaching the home turn and Don’t Stop Dreaming quickly loomed up ominously, however Sugars was able to ease out off the back of the leader and Better Eclipse sprinted quickly to outlast the Kiwi by half a head.
“He’s a great horse and for a horse who has just earned $1m he has probably flown under the radar for most of his career and has just kept getting the job done,” Sugars said.
“He’s a wonderful horse and it was a great hit out for him tonight and hopefully there’s bigger things to come next week,” he said.
Sugars admitted he had concerns when Don’t Stop Dreaming was out and running on the home turn while he was awaiting the sprint lane.
“Mark (Purdon) drove a great race and his horse sprinted so quickly off the turn I thought that he may pinch a break on us,” he said.
“Luckily, I was just able to get out underneath Don’t Stop Dreaming just in time and my horse knuckled down terrific down the straight.”
Sugars said the Summer Carnival wasn’t originally on Better Eclipse’s agenda.
“It’s all worked out perfectly as coming back from Queensland it was such a grueling trip and in the past he was a horse who didn’t appreciate backing up, but this time around he has fully matured and handling it much better,” he said.
“He came to hand so quickly after a short break that races like the Hunter Cup became a realistic chance.”
Meanwhile Mark Purdon said Don’t Stop Dreaming would derive plenty of benefit from the run.
“It was his first run since December 31 and he has blown up a bit across the back,” Purdon said.
“It gives me confidence going into the Hunter Cup knowing that this run will improve him and he’ll be right there next week,” he said.
