Just Believe shooting for the stars at 11:28pm (AEST)

Win, lose or draw, Australian harness racing husband and wife team Greg Sugars and Jess Tubbs have done our country proud in their campaign in Sweden for the world’s most prestigious trotters’ race, Elitloppet.

The popular Victorian couple, from Myrniong, just out of Melbourne, will compete in the first elimination of “The Elite Race” at Stockholm’s famed Solvalla racetrack with champion trotter Just Believe (Orlando Vici) at 11.28pm (AEST) tonight.

Greg, who has been stabled with Hall of Famer Stig Johansson since May 19, has shown so much poise and professionalism it’s been a joy to listen to his interviews and insights. He really has been the perfect ambassador.

Today is D-day with Just Believe and driver Sugars needing a top four finish in their 1609 metre green heat elimination at 11.28 tonight (AEST) to progress to the $1.6 M final, scheduled for early tomorrow morning at 1.45am (AEST).

Apart from coming face to face against the phenomenal elite European square gaiters, and a depth of talent impossible to assemble Down Under, the degree of difficulty increased considerably when Just Believe come up with barrier seven.

Sugars has watched countless tapes of his rivals and has also had a firsthand look at the Solvalla circuit.

Although he had been leaning towards making a strong play for a spot as close to the leading brigade as possible, like the champion driver he is, and with his uncanny instinct, the “Candyman” will make the best of the opportunities served up.

“I’ve watched a huge amount of video replays of recent Elitloppets, and from the wide draws, most horses have gone back,” Sugars said.

“I’m hoping that I may be able to land in an okay spot in the second half of the field and I won’t be burning off the gate.”

It’s the biggest race day of any code in Europe in a race stacked with superstars and in an ideal world, a one, two, three or four alley would have been perfect. It would certainly have pleased the large contingent of harness racing devotees from Australia and New Zealand who have made the trip over, including members of Just Believe’s ownership group, the Iona Syndicate, along with Aussie harness racing officialdom and fans.

More than half of the 27-member ownership of Just Believe will be in Sweden.

“They are so enthusiastic and just love the horse. They enjoy travelling around to watch him race. It’s not about the money, they are so proud of him,” Tubbs said.

“We will certainly look at my other racing opportunities for “Harry” while we’re over here.”

The seven-year-old, a product of the Yabby Dam Farms breeding operation, is by the French sire Orlando Vici and has won 10 of 16 starts (with six placings) since last season joining Tubbs and Sugars, for $680,000.

Sugars took Just Believe to the Solvalla racetrack a few days ago and worked over 2000m.

“I’d been told about the camber on the bends being quite extreme and that was the first thing I noticed. But in saying that, Just Believe handled it all very well and there will be no problems there.”

Sugars accompanied Just Believe on the daunting 60-hour trip, involving planes, boats and horse transports, which didn’t get off to a good start with a two-hour delay in Melbourne prior to take off.

Tubbs said the couple was overwhelmed by the many well-wishers, including family, friends, the harness racing family, and also those not connected with the sport.

Just Believe has been quoted as much as a $300 outsider and the reigning Inter Dominion champion will become only the third Australian-born trotter to compete in Elitloppet — following in the footsteps of Sundons Gift (2009) and Māori Time (2018).

There will be extended coverage of the meeting in Australia on TrotsVision and Sky Racing. Brittany Graham will host from the studio and Luke Humphreys trackside to call all the action. A full stream will be available from 9pm on Trots Vision.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink