Trip of a lifetime coming to an end

Greg Sugars’ trip of a lifetime is coming to an end, with the champion harness racing reinsman set to make his return to Victoria’s driving ranks on Thursday in Ballarat.

Sugars has been in Sweden for the past month with star trotter Just Believe (Orlando Vici), who has closed off his European campaign with brilliant placings in the Jämtlands Stora Pris and Norrbottens Stora Pris.

The horse is currently spelling at Stig Johannsen’s property near Stockholm, with Sugars to leave for Australia on Wednesday.

Just Believe is required to complete two weeks of quarantine in Germany during July before another two weeks back home in Victoria.

“Obviously Harry did us all very proud the whole time he’s been here, but particularly his last two runs. His performances have been sensational and the locals have been super impressed with what they’ve been able to see,” Sugars said in a video posted to Twitter on Tuesday.

Sugars is already looking ahead to next year and a possible return trip to Sweden with the stable star, who became just the third Australia-trained horse to compete in Elitloppet at Solvalla in late May.

“Hopefully we’ve paved the way and opened a few doors for more people to make this trip in the future, and hopefully we get to come back next year if they want us,” Sugars said.

“All going well, we get to do this all again.”

Sugars is booked to drive Larajay Farm’s Somethin Bout Eily and Tindale Racing’s Spacewriter in Ballarat on Thursday, and has further engagements at Bendigo Friday and Melton Saturday.

by Tim O’Connor, for Harness Racing Victoria