Advantage Just Believe after draw in Great Southern Star

It’s advantage Just Believe (Orlando Vici) after the staging of the Woodlands Stud Great Southern Star, with Jess Tubbs’ hopeful running a brilliant second in the first heat and then enjoying the perfect harness racing draw.

A big roar went up in the room as Just Believe’s was the first name pulled, enabling connections to snap up gate one.

He’ll have heat two winner Im Ready Jet on his direct outside and Queen Elida curled up on his back in an outstanding draw, which also has Aldebaran Zeus, heat one winner Plymouth Chubb and lightning fast starters Mufasa Metro, Majestuoso and Majestic Man all drawn on his outside.

It sets up a thrilling final at 10.05pm on www.TrotsVision.com.au amid what’s already been a great night’s racing on the all-trotting card.

There were plenty of smiles in the camp of Peter Manning and Kerryn Manning after Plymouth Chubb led all the way to win the first heat in a performance that was akin to his outstanding two-year-old season.

“Very pleasing, very exciting,” Kerryn told Sky Racing’s Brittany Graham on TrotsVision. “I was waiting for them to close late and they were coming right at the end, but it was a great result. Really pleasing with him.

“We had a good run in front and bring on the final. It’s going to be harder again but nice to be in it.”

Manning said Plymouth Chubb would have no problems backing up.

“He’s the sort of horse at home, he works two heats all the time and is used to standing around and doing the next heat a couple of hours later. It probably shouldn’t fase him at all. It’s just a matter of how much it took out of him, but he did it quite comfortably and hopefully he’s feeling fresh in a couple of hours.”

Just Believe ran on brilliantly from out wide to finish second ahead of Queen Elida, with the first trio home the only heat one qualifiers after their 1:56.0 mile rate was superseded by the second heat.

The latter brought a lot of delight and relief in the Yabby Dam Farm camp when Im Ready Jet was a super winner, mowing down brilliant front-running Kiwi Majestic Man to score for trainer Anton Golino and driver Nathan Jack.

“Even though she had a good trip, she’s had a good trip a couple of times and let us down a bit,” Jack said. “Massive relief and massive job from the team at home.

“All credit has got to go to them, I’m sure they’ve worked around the clock to get her here tonight.

“I don’t think (backing up) will worry her, she’s such a big robust mare. Last year was proof in the pudding.”

Majestic Man led for much of the race and finished just a head back in second, with Mufasa Metro filling out the placings. Sundons Courage, Aldebaran Zeus, Dont Care and Majestuoso also advanced.

WATCH HOW THE BARRIER DRAW UNFOLDED ON TROTSVISION ON DEMAND:

For complete race results, click here.

by Michael Howard. for Harness Racing Victoria