Harry is home!

After three long months and many thousands of kilometres, champion Australian square-gaiter Just Believe (Orland Vici) is finally home from his European harness racing campaign.

Just Believe completed his mandatory two weeks of quarantine in Australia today, and returned home to his Myrniong property of Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars, Larajay Farms.

Click here for a video on Harry’s return.

The gelding ran unplaced in the main mission of his European campaign, Elitloppet where interference cost him any chance in the event, but he lost no admirers.  He followed up with a brilliant third in the Jamtlands Stora Pris in Ostersund and his close second in the Group 1 Norrbottens Stora Pris at Boden, sitting in the breeze outside world leading Francesco Zet and running him all the way to the line, was outstanding.

That was way back in June.

Since then, Just Believe has spelled at Stig Johannson’s property in Sweden, then spent two weeks in quarantine in Germany before flying home and spending a further quarantine period near Melbourne.

While the “The Elite Race” didn’t go to plan, Tubbs and Sugars have not ruled out a future European tilt, saying they learnt so much through this campaign.

For now, though, a rested and ready Just Believe will be prepared with the December Brisbane Inter Dominion in the team’s sights, where the gelding will defend his title.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink