He’s Australian but pedigree is loaded with American bloodlines

Just Believe (Orlando Vici) — only the third Australian horse in harness racing history to receive an invitation to the Elitloppet — has a pedigree rampant with American blood.

The 7-year-old gelding will compete over the Sovalla five-eighths mile racetrack in Stockholm on May 28 for trainer Jess Tubbs and driver Greg Sugar. Born in Australia in 2015, Just Believe has earned $668,463 in Australian dollars to date for his connections—which is comprised of a 27-person ownership group.

First, by examining Just Believe’s sire, Orlando Vici, 3, 1:57, a coal black, French trotter foaled in 2002, we find that this winner of 835,990€ ($1,366,353) has—via his great grandam on his sire’s side through the 1954-foaled, unraced mare Keel—the blood of Calumet Delco 3, 2:04 ($8,892) and Peter The Great 4, 2:02½ running through his veins. Likewise, Orlando Vici’s dam, Irlande Du Nord, is a 1996 daughter of Workaholic, 2, 1:57.1 ($870,869), who comes from the Speedy Crown 3, 1:56.4 ($650,909) and Speedy Count 3, 1:58.4 ($333,924) lines. Orlando Vici has produced a strong group of both European and Scandinavian performers, as well as Australisian contestants, and stands at Haras de Ginai, France and frozen semen is shipped to Haras des Trotteurs, in Victoria, Australia.

Just Believe’s dam, the unraced Heavens Above, who was foaled on March 31, 2004, in Salisbury, Maryland, is a daughter of Like A Prayer, 3, 1:52.2 ($1,118,504), out of the Super Pleasure 3, 1:58f ($827,238) mare Armbro Odalisk 2, Q2:06f ($750).  Heavens Above’s pedigree traces back to Lindy Lane, 3, 1:53 ($895,110), Valley Victory 3, 1:55.3 ($485,307), and Super Bowl 3, 1:56.3 ($601,006) on her sire’s side, while her maternal side traces to Super Bowl and Joie De Vie 3, 1:56.3 ($1,017,251).  Heaven’s Above was the sixth foal out of Armbro Odalisk, who produced a total of nine foals, including Alleigh Girl (by Don Boss Vita) 3, 1:57.4f ($272,249); Ode To Earl (by Earl) 8, 1:56.1z ($130,266); and Party Hall (by Angus Hall) 2, 2:04.2h ($34,777).

As Heavens Above’s fourth foal, Just Believe also has a trio of siblings who have done quite well for themselves. Her first foal is the 2010 mare Heavenly Sister, 1:56 (A$129,745), a daughter of Majestic Son; followed by the 2011 gelding Shared Interest 1:54.s (A$203,996), by Angus Hall; and the 2014 foal Namoscar, 1:59.4 (A$84515), a gelded son of Ready Cash.

What does all this mixing of pedigrees tell us about Just Believe? Basically, that the influence of American trotting genetics, mixed with a healthy dose of French bloodlines cannot be underestimated when it comes to producing a fine trotter, especially those genes which established the standard for the modern day diagonally gaited equine over a century ago.

by Kimberly Rinker, for Harnesslink