Just Believe notches up an easy win

Champion trotter Just Believe (Orlando Vici) barely got out of second gear in cruising to harness racing victory in the $20,000 Scotch Notch Memorial at Melton. 

Greg Sugars eased Just Believe forward shortly after the start to assume control as the seven horse field fell into  Indian File formation during the middle stages. 

With Sugars resembling a statue in the sulky, Just Believe ($1.04 fav) only slightly extended in a 27.1 last 400 metres to score comfortably by six metres from Sleepee with Ebonys Avemger three metres away third. 

“Not only is he blessed with ability but he is such a cruisy horse to drive,” Sugars said. 

Sugars said the race enhanced Just Believe’s race day fitness. 

“That was the idea coming here tonight we just wanted to have nice reasonable hit out just to keep his fitness level where it needs to be, so we don’t have to be too hard on him at home between runs,” he said. 

HE’S COMING NZ! ✈️
Just Believe was too good in the City Of Melton Scotch Notch Memorial for Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars. His next adventure is the TAB Trot! pic.twitter.com/Jcs0FdHWwF

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) March 16, 2024

Sugars is quietly confident Just Believe will play a key role in the $575,000 Trot Slot at Cambridge on April 12 where he will clash with star Anton Golino trained trotter Callmethebreeze 

“He’s a well-travelled horse now but if he gets over there in good order and nothing goes wrong in the trip over he’s going to be a force to be reckoned with,” he said. 

The win took Just Believe’s imposing career record to 28 wins from 71 starts for more than $1.25m in stake earnings.  

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink