by Adam Hamilton

For the past couple of years, we have been really spoiled Down Under.

The “Harry and Larry” show — that is Just Believe (Harry) and Leap To Fame (Larry) — excited and entertained like very few things before it.

But, as of last weekend, the twin-pronged show is over.

Just Believe, the trotter and elder statesman of the pair (Leap To Fame is a pacer), has run his last race.

The news came suddenly, but then again it sort of didn’t.

Co-trainers Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars (who also drove Just Believe) dropped the news of Just Believe’s retirement through their Larajay Farm social media platforms at lunchtime last Saturday.

It ended weeks of rumors and speculation about the champion’s future after a hugely successful New Zealand campaign was cut short by injury back in November.

Just days after he suffered his first defeat from six New Zealand starts last year — when a typically brave second in the Group 1 NZ trotting free-for-all after doing all work outside the leader on Nov. 15 — it was revealed Just Believe had a leg injury of some type. The exact nature is still not clear.

Tubbs and Sugars asked for time to assess and weigh everything up. They, and Just Believe, deserved that.

It was their call to make when they were ready.

Last Saturday was that time.

The beautifully crafted Larajay post read: “It’s with a tinge of sadness, but an overwhelming sense of pride we announce the retirement of our champion, Just Believe.

“We could list the races he won, or the money he earned, but it was the hearts he captured around the world that really set Harry apart.

“His incredible strength and determination to win were second to none and we couldn’t be more grateful for the journey he has taken us on. A huge thank you to all of Harry’s owners for the opportunity they gave us with this incredible horse.

“In the end, it was Harry’s refusal to give up that brought about his retirement, with us no longer able to trust him to tell us when things were getting sore.

“He has nothing left to prove and his welfare is paramount. Happy retirement, Harry. We’re sure going to miss you.”

We, the passionate harness fans, will miss him almost as much.

Just Believe raced 83 times for 38 wins, 23 placings and banked $1,929,253 in prize money, which is second-only to the mighty Lyell Creek ($2,256,724) as the all-time richest Australasian trotter.

It was a switch from former trainer Michael Hughes, who retired, to the Tubbs and Sugars stable in mid-2022 which sparked Just Believe’s stunning emergence.

In 42 starts for the stable, he won 30 times, with nine seconds and a third.

Just Believe’s only unplaced finish came when he struck trouble, galloped and finished tailed-out in a heat of the world’s biggest trotting race, Sweden’s Elitloppet in May, 2023.

The gelding won 10 Group 1 races, including two Inter Dominion finals, a Great Southern Star, Dominion Trot and Rowe Cup.

It was the trip to Sweden which propelled Just Believe to another level, on so many fronts.

It started with that gut-wrenching disappointment in a heat of Elitloppet.

The son of Orlando Vici had shown enough to that point of the race to earn some respect, certainly enough for the Swedes to want to see him race again.

And that he did for two fantastic races, for a third at Ostersund and then a remarkable second to the brilliant local Francesco Zet at Boden.

He won not only credibility, but also the hearts of the Swedes. They were desperate for him to stay longer; sure that he could win a “major” race over there.

But it was time to return home – for that same 60-hour trip he endured to get to Sweden.

At the time Sugars feared what toll the trip would take.

“It’s something we had to do and we’re so glad we did, but it’s a gamble for sure,” he said.

Instead, as good as he was before Sweden, Just Believe returned a better horse, much better. He was almost unbeatable.

“There’s no doubt he came back a better horse,” Sugars said. “He was different around home and better at the races. And he knew he was better.”

After Sweden, Just Believe raced 23 times for 20 wins and three seconds. And that’s as a late 7 and 8-year-old.

When a horse like Just Believe comes along, everyone has their own tag and ranking – star, champion, generational giant or all-time great.

Even the harshest judges would have to rank Just Believe at least a generational giant and one of the all-time greats.

Through Australia’s trotting history, the incomparable Maori’s Idol, who won 40 of 46 starts in the 1970s and regularly raced against and beat top-class pacers, stands alone as THE greatest.

Behind him, Just Believe deserves a spot on the podium with the mighty Lyell Creek — who spent a chunk of time racing with success in the U.S. — for second or third.

Perhaps the greatest credit to Harry’s impact came when news of his retirement made headlines in Australia, New Zealand, France, Sweden, the U.S. and no doubt other countries this writer didn’t see.

Thanks Harry, for delighting us with your greatness, endearing us with your courage and leaving us with so many wonderful memories.

And, finally, take a bow Tubbs and Sugars for superbly navigating him through such a complex and amazing two-and-a-half years.