International storylines run deep in Bill Collins Sprint

Australia’s next Group 1 trotting race is more like a meeting of the United Nations of harness racing.

Saturday night’s $75,000 Bill Collins Trotters’ Mile – headed by the next clash of Just Believe and Callmethebreeze  – has it all.

All 11 runners, including emergency One Over All (Angus Hall), are sired by top international stallions – six from the US and the other five from France.

The US-bred Trixton shares top billing with two runners (Callmethebreeze and Arcee Phoenix), along with Love You (Queen Elida and Keayang Chucky) and Orlando Vici (Just Believe and Ollivici).

The other stallions represented are: Muscle Hill (Aldebaran Zeus), Quaker Jet (Im Ready Jet), Majestic Son (Harry Stamper) and Father Patrick (Mufasa Metro).

But the international flavour to this Bill Collins runs so much deeper.

Just Believe gained a global following through his deeds in a three-race Swedish trip in the middle of last year.

After striking trouble and losing all chance in a heat of the iconic Elitloppet, Just Believe then won an army of fans with two outstanding placings in strong races before returning home.

Incredibly, since returning home Just Believe has raced 19 times for 17 wins and two seconds.

There is no doubt the daring and daunting Swedish trip made him a better horse.

It’s a contrasting story with Callmethebreeze, the French-bred stallion who won two Group 1 races in Europe before being bought for big money as a stallion prospect by Pat Driscoll, the man behind Australia’s giant Yabby Dams operation.

Callmethebreeze did what most thought almost impossible when, at just his third start Down Under, he ran down Just Believe and beat him in Australia’s biggest trotting race, the Group 1 Great Southern Star at Melton on February 3.

Callmethebreeze’s nine Down Under starts have netted him six wins, two seconds and a truckload of respect.

That respect runs deep with Just Believe’s driver, Greg Sugars.

“Oh, he’s a wonderful trotter. We knew he was world class before he came across and look what he’s done already,” he said.

“You think he’d only keep getting better the more experience he has with our style of racing.”

Then there is multiple Group 1 winner Aldebaran Zeus.

The speedy entire went to the US and ran a cheeky fifth in the Yonkers International Trot in September last year.

It has taken trainer Brent Lilley some time to get him back to his best, but Aldebaran Zeus sparkled winning by 14m in a slick 1min53.87sec mile at Menangle last Saturday night.

He’s peaking at the right time and gets to use his early speed from barrier three.

But most still expect the race to be a match between Just Believe and Callmethebreeze.

Their rivalry is new, but already so exciting.

It stands at 3-1 in Just Believe’s favour, but this is their first clash since Just Believe won and Callmethebreeze was a close second in the inaugural $600,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge in New Zealand’s North Island on April 12.

Callmethebreeze has changed stables since – from Anton Golino to Andy Gath – and has looked sublime winning all three starts for the new barn.

Just Believe dominates betting after drawing much better. He will start from gate three, while Callmethebreeze is drawn outside the back row.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Victoria