Just Believe’s incredible season that helped put Australian trotting on the world stage has seen him crowned the 2023 Victorian Horse of the Year.
The Jess Tubbs-trained squaregaiter was announced as the state’s standout equine performer of last year during a special awards ceremony at Melton Entertainment Park on Saturday night, which also saw Lance Justice claim the Gordon Rothacker Medal, Georgie Coram win the Pearl Kelly Award and David Aiken inducted as the newest Caduceus Club Living Legend.
Just Believe won eight races during a glittering 2023, including Group 1 triumphs in the Great Southern Star Final, Australian Trotting Grand Prix and Inter Dominion Trotting Championship Grand Final for prizemoney earnings up over $500,000.
Despite his dominance in Australia, it was perhaps his efforts on Swedish soil that helped him truly win the hearts of harness racing fans. Just Believe was invited to compete in the world-famous Elitloppet at Solvalla - he galloped on the final turn and finished last in his heat – and then produced brilliant runs for placings in big races at Ostersund and Boden.
He returned home from Europe a national pin-up horse and was spelled before heading north to complete a second-straight clean sweep of the Inter Dominion series.
Just Believe edged out fellow Victorian Horse of the Year finalists Catch A Wave and Encipher and takes the crown from fellow trotter Majestuoso who won it in 2022.
Standout pacers across age and sex categories were announced on Saturday night, Emma Stewart, Kate Gath and James Herbertson were lauded for their respective successes in training and driving premierships while stars in the breeding industry were acknowledged for amazing 2023 performances.
2023 AWARDS
2YO Pacing Filly of the Year – Very Pretty
2YO Pacing Colt/Gelding of the Year – Timmy Rictor
2YO Trotting Filly of the Year – Violet Stanford
2YO Trotting Colt/Gelding of the Year – Kyvalley Maven
3YO Pacing Filly of the Year – Major Delight
3YO Pacing Colt/Gelding of the Year - Petracca
3YO Trotting Filly of the Year - Rockinwithattitude
3YO Trotting Colt/Gelding of the Year – The Locomotive
4YO Pacing Mare of the Year - Encipher
4YO Pacing Entire/Gelding of the Year – Catch A Wave
4YO Trotting Mare of the Year – Gardena Ronda
4YO Trotting Entire/Gelding of the Year – Plymouth Chubb
Aged Pacing Mare of the Year – Ladies In Red
Aged Pacing Entire/Gelding of the Year – Honolua Bay
Aged Trotting Mare of the Year – Queen Elida
Aged Trotting Entire/Gelding of the Year – Just Believe
Metropolitan Driver of the Year – Kate Gath
Victorian Concession Driver of the Year – James Herbertson
Garrard’s Victorian Driver of The Year – James Herbertson
Victorian Trainer of The Year – Emma Stewart
Taylors Metropolitan Trainer of the Year – Emma Stewart
Aldebaran Park Victorian Trotting Broodmare of the Year – Justa Phoenix
Benstud Standardbreds Victorian Pacing Broodmare of the Year - Coppagoodone
Woodlands Stud Victorian Breeder of the Year – Redbank Lodge
Lang Distinguished Services Award - Clinton Welsh, Terry Lewis and Chris Hunter
Caduceus Living Legend – David Aiken
Victorian Horse of the Year – Just Believe
The Pearl Kelly Award – Georgie Coram
Gordon Rothacker Medal – Lance Justice