Believe, Brilliance, and an upset dominate trotters ID heats

Orlando Vici trotter Just Believe has been a revelation since joining the care of harness racing trainer Jess Tubbs and he was the first to put his name forward in the 2022 Inter Dominion Trotting Championship.

The six-year-old gelding won the opening heat at Ballarat on Saturday night (Nov. 26) – his fourth win in seven starts with Tubbs.

Driven by Tubbs’ husband Greg Sugars, Just Believe led throughout the 2200m qualifier rating 2:01.

“He’s the type of horse that we saw last year through the Sydney campaign he just thrived through it,” said Sugars.

“To get a soft first-up run, you think it’s going to do him the world of good moving into round two.”

JUST BELIEVE REPLAY

The next to put their name forward in the Inter Dominion Trotting Championship is star New Zealand trotter Bolt For Brilliance (Muscle Hill).

Starting from barrier two, experienced reinsman Tony Herlihy let the five-year-old gelding roll to the front where he remained throughout.

With a moderate tempo in the first three sectionals, Bolt For Brilliance zipped home in a closing quarter of 27.7 seconds beating his rivals by more than seven metres in a rate of 2:01.2.

“He’s very lazy in front and very relaxed which is great for a series like this with three heats in a week,” said Herlihy.

“When I pulled the plugs he wasn’t sure where he was I think.”

BOLT FOR BRILLIANCE REPLAY

While Bolt For Brilliance was one of the favourites in his heat but the same cannot be said for the winner of the third trotters heat.

The winner Ofortuna (Majestic Son) had starting odds of $41.

Driven by Miracle Mile-winning horsewoman Jodi Quinlan, Ofortuna caused the upset beating Mufasa Metro by a half-head in a mile rate of 2:00.3 – the fastest of the three heats.

OFORTUNA REPLAY

For complete race results, click here.

by Amanda Rando, for Harnesslink