The French connection shoots across Southern skies

THE feverish pre- race hype was palatable and the Yabby Dam Farms Great Southern Star Final didn’t disappoint. 

Ironically on A G Hunter Cup night it was an epic two horse war between two trotters, champion Just Believe (Orlando Vici) and the French import Callmethebreeze (Trixton) which provided the harness racing highlight of the night. 

The barrier draw made it far from a stroll in the park for either horse with Just Believe drawing barrier seven and Callmethebreeze the extreme outside in (barrier) 10. 

Just Believe ($1.40 fav) was forced to do his share of work in getting up outside the leader Hesallmuscle while Callmethebreeze settled two horses back in the running line before Nathan Jack pulled out with 700 metres to travel. 

Callmethebreeze made a line of three around the home turn with Just Believe being asked for the supreme effort by Greg Sugars. 

The pair provided a wonderful spectacle with neither giving an inch and on the line Callmethebreeze ($4) lifted to get up and score by a neck from Just Believe with Keayang Chucky six metres away third. 

CALLMETHEBREEZE!!
What a titanic battle, with Just Believe and Callmethebreeze going toe-to-toe and it's the latter who wins the Yabby Dam Farms Great Southern Star Final in a fight for the ages.
We've witnessed something special! pic.twitter.com/v2JlnuqgZY

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) February 3, 2024

Callmethebreeze’s mile rate of 1:53.1 equalled Tornado Valley’s track record. 

Jack said he made a long sustained run to test the Just Believe’s reserves of stamina. 

“Just Believe had done a bit of work early and we had to try and get him tired, so we had to make it a staying race,” Jack said. 

Jack admitted he was confident of victory on the home turn. 

“At the top of the straight Greg was asking for his and wasn’t getting away from me and for that I knew that I was a live chance,” he said. 

Jack said the win was particularly satisfying to share with the Yabby Dam Farms outfit. 

“Both Pat (Driscoll) and Anton have been loyal supporters of mine and they deserve all the credit as they find these horses and they’ve got to train them and I just rock up on raceday,” he said. 

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink