“He’s feeling a million dollars”

The Jess Tubbs-trained squaregaiter went through the three rounds of ID22 heats unbeaten, but came up with gate 12 at last night’s barrier draw in Albert Park.

Tubbs’ husband and regular driver Greg Sugars would clearly have liked a more favourable starting position for the $250,000 showdown at Tabcorp Park Melton, but is pleased with how his horse heads into the series decider.

“He’s come through it brilliantly,” Sugars said.

“That’s one massive positive we can take out of the heats. He hasn’t really had a hard run yet, he’s really thrived on the three runs and he’s feeling a million dollars.

“He’s a versatile horse and he’s going to have to be from the draw.”

Just Believe ran third in last year’s Inter Dominion final at Menangle when trained by Michael Hughes – running behind Maori Law who was driven by Sugars – and has won six of nine starts since moving to the Myrniong stable.

Those victories have included three heats of the ID22 series and the Group 1 Bill Collins Trotters Sprint in October.

The TAB has Just Believe a $5 chance to win Saturday night’s final, with Queen Elida favourite at $1.90.

Tubbs and Sugars also have Better Eclipse in the SENTrack Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Grand Final, but he too will have to overcome a wide back row gate.

After winning a heat at Ballarat and then running fourth at Shepparton, the star four-year-old galloped away in the last round of qualifiers at Geelong and finished last, beaten over 400m.

This meant he was placed out of the draw for the final and will start from outside the back row.

After being one of the key fancies for the race, he’s now drifted to be a $24 chance with the TAB.

WATCH MICHAEL GUERIN’S CHAT WITH GREG SUGARS BELOW: