The $265,000 Inter Dominion Trotting Championship Grand Final, run at Albion Park, proved a harness racing triumph for Haras Des Trotteurs’ stud, Ballarat, as their sires Orlando Vici and Love You sired the winner and third placegetter respectively.
Just Believe, who completed a clean sweep of the series, is a seven-year-old gelding by the French-bred millionaire Orlando Vici and one of his first Australian crop.
The $143,000 winner’s cheque boosted his stake tally to a hefty $954,233, of which $560,370 has been won this season.
Queen Elida (Love You), who finished third in the Final, is the second richest trotter this year with $372,950.
Love You ($1.5million) and Orlando Vici ($940,000) are ranked second and third on the national all aged sires’ list.
Love You enjoyed a bumper weekend with winners on both sides of the Tasman. They included the Melton winner Iron Love (1:58.7), the three-year-old Jilliby Jetpack (Terang) and in New Zealand, Crazy N Love (Addington), Dream Of You (Auckland), Lovey Dovey Nova (Rangiora) and Hot Saucy Betty (Winton).
Other stud-winners have been Eurostyle (by Orlando Vici), the three-year-old Against The Bridle (Used To Me) and Mattyo and Castana (both Quaker Jet).
by Peter Wharton, for Harnesslink