The little Aussie horse who has been all over the world Just Believe needed to produce a world class performance to win the $600,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge.
The Victorian overcame the hardest run sitting parked to head home a Victorian domination of the locals, clawing his way past Callmethebreeze and Queen Elida for a stunning victory in the 2200m mobile.
He was driven to perfection by Greg Sugars, whose wife Jess Tubbs trains Just Believe, as he allowed the pony-sized trotter to miss the early fireworks and then stride forward to get outside the leader at exactly the right time.
Callmethebreeze had held off Muscle Mountain’s surprise early bid for the lead and was travelling comfortably, and while his early burn wouldn’t have helped late, the winner had to be brave, brilliant and willing to get over the top of him.
If this was one of the best trotting fields assembled in New Zealand, then to sit parked and win means Just Believe must have produced one of the greatest performances in our history.
“He is a very special horse, he just wants to win,” Sugars said.
“To come over here and do this is very special. I remember watching Kerryn (Manning, fellow Victorian) come over here to win a New Zealand Cup with Arden Rooney and thinking how special that would be.
“So to come here and beat the Kiwis on their own track is a huge achievement.”
While it was Just Believe’s first start in New Zealand, he flew the Australian flag just as proudly in Sweden last year where he had three starts without winning but was twice placed against outstanding horses.
Since joining Tubbs and Sugars two years ago, he has been transformed from little Aussie battler into a giant of his gait. The TAB Trot triumph was his crowning glory.
There had been some suggestion of him heading back to Sweden, but he will instead stay in New Zealand to tackle at least another two races.
Just Believe’s record now stands at 29 wins from 73 starts.
WATCH JUST BELIEVE'S TAB TROT VICTORY AND GREG SUGARS' POST-RACE INTERVIEW BELOW: