Just Believe’s first look at Solvalla

Star Aussie trotter Just Believe’s (Orlando Vici) first look at the Solvalla harness racing track was a positive one ahead of Sunday’s huge Elitloppet in Stockholm.

Trainer-driver Greg Sugars took the Inter Dominion and Great Southern Star hero into Solvalla yesterday and worked strongly over 2000m in preparation for by far the biggest challenge of his career against the world’s best trotters.

“The first thing I noticed about the track and everyone warned me, was the camber on the bends,” Sugars said. “It’s quite extreme, but importantly ‘Harry’ (Just Believe’s stable name) got around it (the track) well.

“I wanted to simulate a trial, so I worked him over 2000m and ran the first furlong (200m) strongly as though he was coming off the (starting) gate.

“I backed it off through the middle and dashed-up the last 600m and a pretty quick last quarter (400m). Overall I was pretty happy with his work.

“He’s a pretty casual sort of horse by himself and probably doesn’t give 100 per cent at the finish, but that’s fine for what we wanted for today.”

The strong workout further convinced Sugars that Just Believe had handled last week’s daunting 60-hour trip from Melbourne to Stockholm well.

“He seems really well. I haven’t got a negative to report at this stage,” he said. “He’s given me all the indications he’s handled everything well, but we won’t fully know until crunch time on Sunday if the trip has taken any toll.”

Sugars also took the opportunity while at Solvalla to ponder his wide barrier draw (seven).

“It’s not ideal. I said going into the draw I’d like four or closer so we could try and settle somewhere near the front,” he said.

“I’ve gone back and watched a lot of the replays of the recent Elitloppets and most horses got back from the wide draws.

“I’m still a chance to find a reasonable spot in the second half of the field, but certainly won’t be taking any part in the early burn.”

Although it was an empty Solvalla on Tuesday, Sweden’s harness racing mecca will be jam-packed on Sunday for its biggest race day of any code, something Sugars pondered.

“It was pretty cool today. I took a few moments on the track to take it all in and where I was. It really is the stuff dreams are made of,” he said.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia