Leap To Fame - 2024 Blakes A Fake Win Photo by Dan Costello
CHAMPION Aussie trotter Just Believe smashed through the $2 million prize money barrier when he thrashed NZ’s best trotters in today’s $400,000 Dominion Trot at Addington.
It was Just Believe’s 10th Group 1 – and this third at Group 1 level in NZ – and took his career earnings to $2,015,845.
Driver and co-trainer Greg Sugars was moved to declare the win, in front of a packed NZ Cup Day crowd – as the highlight of his stellar career
“That’s top of the tree for me,” he said. “To come over here (NZ) and win the TAB Trot at Cambridge earlier this year was special to me, but this, here at this track, is better again.”
To underline the significance of the win, Just Believe was the first Aussie-trained horse to win the Dominion since the mighty Scotch Notch a staggering 41 years ago.
The Kiwis put it to Just Believe early when Sugars came looking for the lead, but he was on a mission.
“He was the best horse in the race, and I drove him that way,” Sugars said.
“Once he got to the front, he felt great, and he really did it easily.”
Just Believe scooted five lengths clear in the home straight before being eased down to win by two-and-a-half lengths.
Incredibly, Just Believe has gone to another level since his daunting three-race Swedish raid in the middle of last year.
Since returning home, the rising nine-year-old has raced 21 times for 19 wins and two seconds.
“Jess (Tubbs, trainer) and I just marvel at him. You run out of things to say about him,” Sugars said. “Somehow, despite his age, he’s not only going as well as ever, but possibly better.”
Kiwis Mighty Logan and last year’s winner Oscar Bonavena filled the minor placings behind Just Believe.
Pleasingly, two of the other Aussies in the race ran terrific races with Arcee Phoenix fourth and Just Believe’s stablemate, One Over All, fifth.
Just Believe will back up at Addington on Friday, chasing an 11th Group 1 win in the $NZ100,000 NZ Trotting free-for-all.
