“Harry” does us proud – you better believe it!

Champion square gaiter Just Believe (Orlando Vici) saved his best for last in his trail-blazing European campaign, much to the delight of connections and Down Under harness racing fans.

The reigning Inter Dominion titleholder, trained near Melbourne by Jess Tubbs, and driven by her husband Greg Sugars, was superb in running second early this morning (June 18) in the $A400,000 Norrbottens Grand Prix (2140m) in Boden, 12 hours north of Stockholm, Sweden.

The seven-year-old was driven confidently from the word go and when the freak trotter Francesco Zet (Father Patrick) —going for his 14th straight win—worked to the lead, Sugars didn’t hesitate to move three wide and to the breeze for the last mile.

Francesco Zet lengthened stride on the final corner, but Just Believe stayed strong and grabbed second placing ahead of the early leader Mellby Jinx.

An elated Sugars was so proud of “Harry” as his horse is known, emphasising his fighting qualities with such a brave run.

JUST BELIEVE REPLAY

And Sugars later hinted a return trip next year was on the radar providing everything was in place.

Just Believe showed his outstanding ability at his previous start with an eye-catching third to Swedish stars Hail Mary (Googoo Gaagaa) and Click Bait (Cantab Hall) in the Jamtlands Grand Prix in Ostersund. That was after a heart-breaking Elitlopp heat run when he galloped after being tightened on the final turn.

Just Believe and Sugars will now take the road trip back to Stig Johansson’s stable in Stockholm where the horse will go for a spell prior to going in quarantine for two weeks in Germany.

Sugars said Just Believe was booked to fly back home on July 28 where he will spend another fortnight at the Mickleham quarantine facility, north of Melbourne.

Then the stable will then focus on defending Just Believe’s Inter Dominion title at Brisbane’s Albion Park in December.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink