Just Believe named the 2023 Victorian Horse of the Year

Just Believe’s (Orlando Vici) incredible harness racing season that helped put Australian trotting on the world stage has seen him crowned the 2023 Victorian Horse of the Year.

The Jess Tubbs-trained squaregaiter was announced as the state’s standout equine performer of last year during a special awards ceremony at Melton Entertainment Park on Saturday night, which also saw Lance Justice claim the Gordon Rothacker Medal, Georgie Coram win the Pearl Kelly Award and David Aiken inducted as the newest Caduceus Club Living Legend.

Just Believe won eight races during a glittering 2023, including Group 1 triumphs in the Great Southern Star Final, Australian Trotting Grand Prix and Inter Dominion Trotting Championship Grand Final for prizemoney earnings up over $500,000.

Despite his dominance in Australia, it was perhaps his efforts on Swedish soil that helped him truly win the hearts of harness racing fans. Just Believe was invited to compete in the world-famous Elitloppet at Solvalla – he galloped on the final turn and finished last in his heat – and then produced brilliant runs for placings in big races at Ostersund and Boden.

He returned home from Europe a national pin-up horse and was spelled before heading north to complete a second-straight clean sweep of the Inter Dominion series.

Just Believe edged out fellow Victorian Horse of the Year finalists Catch A Wave and Encipher and takes the crown from fellow trotter Majestuoso who won it in 2022.

Standout pacers across age and sex categories were announced on Saturday night, Emma Stewart, Kate Gath and James Herbertson were lauded for their respective successes in training and driving premierships while stars in the breeding industry were acknowledged for amazing 2023 performances.

2023 AWARDS

2YO Pacing Filly of the Year – Very Pretty

2YO Pacing Colt/Gelding of the Year – Timmy Rictor

2YO Trotting Filly of the Year – Violet Stanford

2YO Trotting Colt/Gelding of the Year – Kyvalley Maven

3YO Pacing Filly of the Year – Major Delight

3YO Pacing Colt/Gelding of the Year – Petracca

3YO Trotting Filly of the Year – Rockinwithattitude

3YO Trotting Colt/Gelding of the Year – The Locomotive

4YO Pacing Mare of the Year – Encipher

4YO Pacing Entire/Gelding of the Year – Catch A Wave

4YO Trotting Mare of the Year – Gardena Ronda

4YO Trotting Entire/Gelding of the Year – Plymouth Chubb

Aged Pacing Mare of the Year – Ladies In Red

Aged Pacing Entire/Gelding of the Year – Honolua Bay

Aged Trotting Mare of the Year – Queen Elida

Aged Trotting Entire/Gelding of the Year – Just Believe

Metropolitan Driver of the Year – Kate Gath

Victorian Concession Driver of the Year – James Herbertson

Garrard’s Victorian Driver of The Year – James Herbertson

Victorian Trainer of The Year – Emma Stewart

Taylors Metropolitan Trainer of the Year – Emma Stewart

Aldebaran Park Victorian Trotting Broodmare of the Year – Justa Phoenix

Benstud Standardbreds Victorian Pacing Broodmare of the Year – Coppagoodone

Woodlands Stud Victorian Breeder of the Year – Redbank Lodge

Lang Distinguished Services Award – Clinton Welsh, Terry Lewis and Chris Hunter

Caduceus Living Legend – David Aiken

Victorian Horse of the Year – Just Believe

The Pearl Kelly Award – Georgie Coram

Gordon Rothacker Medal – Lance Justice

by Tim O’Connor, for HRV