Tubbs’ “win on so many levels” Just changed the game

Only now has Jess Tubbs conceded the weight of a nation she and Greg Sugars felt taking Just Believe (Orlando Vici) to Sweden.

And that’s why the heartbreak of the Elitlopp hit so hard, especially for Sugars who took the harness racing reins on Just Believe.

“It really was a make or break trip in many ways,” Tubbs said. “While they were excited we were coming across, we also knew ‘Harry’ would have to prove himself competitive for the sake of Down Under trotting and the hopes of others to follow in our footsteps.

“Don’t get me wrong, they treated us amazingly well at the Elitlopp, with so much respect, but I certainly think what he showed before galloping and that he did at Ostersund has surprised most of them over there.

“It was terrific to have so many people saying nice things about how competitive he was going to be in the Elltlopp and wanting us to race him again over there.

“But to have him come out and back that up with his terrific run at Ostersund means so much, not just for us, but everyone with trotters in Australia and New Zealand.

“He’s gained some serious respect and, to be really honest, he’s even surprised us a bit.

“We didn’t really know the form of the top trotters over there, but we were more guided by the experts on how much harder it would be in Sweden than at home.

“We always had faith in Harry, but it sounded like it would be really hard for him to compete. He’s certainly done that and more.”

Tubbs is excited about what the future looks like for our trotters.

“There’s been some novelty value to having a Down Under trotter in the Elitlopp, but now our horses will be picked because they’re expected to be very competitive in it, too, and that’s so exciting,” she said.

Just Believe, helped by a lovely Greg Sugars drive and solid midrace tempo, came with a four-wide late and ran home strongly from sixth spot in to finish a fantastic third in what was Group 1 quality race at Ostersund.

It a proud moment for Sugars, Tubbs and every Down Under trotting fan.

“It felt like a win,” Tubbs said.

“Sometimes a win can be about more than being the first one past the post. This was a win on so many levels and for so many people.”

No doubt trainers like Brent Lilley and Chris Lang, who have both expressed interest in tackling the Elitlopp again in the next couple of years, would have been watching with pride and excitement.

It was fitting Lilley’s latest star and potentially the best trotter he’s trained, Queen Elida, toyed with her rivals at Melton again just hours before Just Believe raced at Ostersund.

Lilley, who took Maori Time across in 2018, has openly said he would love to take Queen Elida to next year’s Elitloppet if she keeps developing and her Kiwi-based owners are keen.

It is hard to argue that the best version of Queen Elida isn’t right there alongside Just Believe as Australia’s best trotter.

They will meet again in the Brisbane Inter Dominion series in December.

“That’s the first target back home for him (Just Believe),” Tubbs said.

“He’ll have a good break once he’s finished his two weeks quarantine back in Australia and it’ll all be about getting him ready for the Inter Dominion.”

Lang, who speaks glowingly about his lightly raced and very exciting trotter Ollivici, has also touted him as a possible Elitloppet contender in coming years.

Lang took Sundons Gift across where he ran sixth in a 2009 Elitloppet heat.

For everything Just Believe has done at home, that third at Ostersund and hopefully another bold showing at Boden next Saturday could well be his greatest legacy.

WATCH JUST BELIEVE’S THIRD IN THE JÄMTLANDS STORA PRIS BELOW:

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Victoria