Just Believe’s final European test is shaping as his greatest, with the Victorian trailblazer to bout with Swedish star Francesco Zet, who’s drawn to advantage and chasing a 14th consecutive win.
Driver Greg Sugars said Just Believe was “in great order and feeling a million dollars” after his third placing last Sunday morning, and was looking forward to a third and final Swedish bout at Boden at 6.45am this Sunday.
“We’ve earned a lot of respect here with our horse from his previous run and the form experts certainly (make him) a strong top three chance, so we are not out of it that’s for sure,” Sugars told TrotsVision’s Ryan Phelan.
Standing in his path is TAB’s $1.25 favourite, the polemarker Francesco Zet, from the same stable as Hail Mary, the winner of Just Believe’s most recent run at Ostersund.
“The powerhouse that is Örjan Kihlström and Daniel Redén is quite amazing,” Sugars said.
“The power that they have with their team of horses is quite phenomenal and by all reports this horse here (Francesco Zet) might be the best horse in Sweden.
“Not ideal coming up against him, but he’s a very impressive animal and I am actually looking forward to seeing him in the flesh and seeing him go.”
Sugars said his Australian trotter wouldn’t shrink from the challenge.
“We know he’s got that never-say-die attitude and he loves to win and he tries his heart out,” he said.
“Anything’s possible on any given occasion for him, but it’s hard not to be impressed with that horse’s record, Francesco Zet.
“The word on the street before the Elitlopp was if they had have chosen to take up that place we were all running for second, that’s how highlight they rate him. It’s going to be very interesting to see just how good he is, but we are going to do our best to knock him off that’s for sure.”
Sugars also touched on the performances thus far and the path home in his chat with Phelan.
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