by Adam Hamilton

The Inter Dominion is Down Under’s most iconic event.

Although not as almighty as it once was, it is still the event most participants would say they aspire to win.

But this year’s Inter Dominion, held in a hot and humid Brisbane summer, has global interest and ramifications.

It is all due to an aging trotter who didn’t win a race, but did draw a legion of new fans during a three-race Swedish campaign in May/June, this year.

Just Believe has made sure the trotting final, not the richer and traditionally bigger pacing final, is the marquee event at Brisbane’s Albion Park on Saturday night (Dec. 15).

So many Swedes didn’t want Just Believe to go home after he posted slashing placings in his last two races in Sweden, including a remarkably brave second to the gifted Francesco Zet.

Many have followed his deeds since returning home and will be tuning in any way they can when he tries to successfully defend his Inter Dominion crown.

One of those is Solvalla’s sports general, Anders Malmrot, who made Just Believe’s Swedish trip — starting with the Elitlopp — possible earlier this year.

“Harry [Just Believe’s stable name] has set Australia on the trotting map here in Sweden and he has a big number of fans who follow him every race,” Malmrot said. “Harry, Greg [Sugars] and Jess [Tubbs] were fantastic ambassadors over here and made a great impact on everyone.

“After seeing him in his comeback races, I would say he seems even stronger and faster than before, and we hope for the best [this week] so maybe we can see him again in the Elitlopp. From all our harness fans here, we keep our fingers crossed and wish Harry all the best on Saturday.”

Just as he did before winning last year’s Melbourne final, Just Believe has taken a clean sweep of the three rounds of qualifying heats in Brisbane.

But it’s been with more authority and almost an heir of arrogance.

“Two great horsemen from here, Chris Lang and Anthony Butt, have taken horses to Sweden and both told me before I went with Just Believe that’s he come back a better horse,” co-trainer/driver Greg Sugars said. “I couldn’t see that happening because we thought he was already pretty good, but he has… they were right.”

Just Believe made it four wins from as many starts this campaign and since returning from Sweden when he smashed the track record and looked to do it easily in the last of his Inter Dominion qualifiers last Friday night.

The son of Orlando Vici trotted a 1:57.5 mile rate for the long 2680m trip and left Sugars grasping for words.

“He’s a very special animal and we’re so lucky to have him in our stable,” he said. “He’s just the perfect racehorse and, despite having some pressure from the outside him, he felt like he did it in second gear.

“I’m a little bit lost for words how to describe. He’s amazing.”

His stunning form, combined with an ideal barrier [gate 4] have Just Believe a commanding $1.15 [for a $1 bet] favorite.

Sugars knows the local and international spotlight will be on him in the final.

“It’s different to last year when he won all his heats from good draws, but drew badly in the final and lots of people dropped off him,” he said. “There is so much more expectation this year.

“We’re excited by the challenge and the expectation isn’t daunting because we have the utmost faith in him.”

Whether it’s straight after the Inter Dominion, or more likely early next year, Sugars knows the question of a return to Sweden is looming.

“This has been his first target since coming home, we just want to get through this first,” he said. “There is a lot to think about with Sweden, it’s not just about the horse, it’s the time and commitment from Jess and I as well with a big team of horses at home.

“We’ve got a lot to think about. It’s an option, but they’ve also put a big new [trotting] slot race on in New Zealand [in April] as well, so there is a lot for him closer to home.”

Mighty New Zealand-bred mare Queen Elida finished third to Just Believe in last year’s Inter Dominion and looms as the main danger on Saturday night.

Many Down Under think she would be an ideal Elitloppet-type with her sparkling speed, but connections have definitively ruled-out Sweden as an option, at least next year. She’s still only 5.

The emerging Ollivici is another touted as a possible Elitloppet contender, but more so in 2025 and beyond. The 5-year-old snared two wins and a second from his three Inter Dominion qualifiers at Albion Park and is third favorite for the final.

Ollivici is trained by Chris Lang, who took Sundons Gift across for the 2009 Elitloppet, but without any success. Like Just Believe is trying to do, Sundons Gift went to Sweden having won the Inter Dominion and returned to win it again the next year.

INTER DOMINION PACING FINAL

The Inter Dominion pacing final is a fascinating rematch between superstar half-brothers Leap To Fame and Swayzee.

They have met just once when 5-year-old Swayzee upset 4-year-old Leap To Fame on July 22, this year in the Group 1 Blacks A Fake at the same track (Albion Park) and distance (2680m) as Saturday night’s pacing final.

Since then, Swayzee has gone to New Zealand and beaten their best in the iconic NZ Cup in Christchurch on Nov. 14.

Just as he did in the Blacks A Fake, Swayzee has drawn a better barrier than Leap To Fame, although the disparity is not as glaring for the younger sibling.

In the Blacks A Fake, Leap To Fame had to come from the back row, while Swayzee wandered to the lead from a kind front row barrier.

And Leap To Fame sustained a flat tire, buckled rim and the tube seized his sulky wheel for the last 150m. He finished a mighty second.

So much will depend on what happens in the first 200m in this final because Swayzee and Leap To Fame are not renowned for their early gate speed.

Swayzee has gate 3, while Leap To Fame will come into 5 when the emergency is scratched.

Opinions are divided whether Leap To Fame, who is the quicker out of the pair, will have enough early ping to get across Swayzee. That will go a long way to deciding the race.

If Swayzee keeps him out and works to the lead, he will be in a place where he is unbeaten in 10 races since joining Jason Grimson’s stable; up front and dictating.

Grimson is chasing some Inter Dominion history in the race, trying to become the first trainer to win the pacing final three successive years with different horses. He won with Boncel Benjamin in 2021 and I Cast No Shadow last year.

Along with Swayzee, Grimson also has third favorite Nerano from barrier 1 in the final.