Just Believe Returns Earlier Than Planned

Just Believe ID23 Final Win. Photo by Dan Costello.

JESS Tubbs admits Just Believe's winning streak is at genuine risk when he returns to racing in the $50,000 Group 2 Knight Pistol (2200m) at Ballarat on Friday night.

The dual Inter Dominion champion will come from a wide draw (gate six) against a terrific field.

It's clearly a stronger field than he beat to win the Brisbane Inter Dominion final at Albion Park at his latest run on December 16.

"It won't be easy from that draw against such a good field," Tubbs said.

"There's a few nice ones drawn inside him, and it'll be interesting to see how Callmethebreeze goes because he's looked good at the trials and has some strong European form."

Tubbs said it was a late decision and away from the original plan to run Just Believe this week.

"This race was never on the radar, but he's just been so well around home and come to hand so quickly we thought he should run," she said.

"Everything is built around the Great Southern Star and having him right for that, but he'll still run really well this week."

"We'll decide after this whether he runs again the week after or goes straight to the Great Southern Star (February 3)."

Mufasa Metro (gate one) and Queen Elida (seven), who ran second and third in the Brisbane final, are among his key rivals on Saturday night.

So, too, is Brisbane Inter Dominion heat win Plymouth Chubb (gate two).

The key fresh blood includes high-class mare Im Ready Jet (eight), last-start Group 1 Maori Mile winner Arcee Phoenix (10), European import Callmethebreeze (three) and the emerging Keayang Ignite (nine).

The early markets still have Just Believe at $1.50 from Callmethebreeze ($6), Mufasa Metro ($9.50) and Queen Elida ($11).

In other stable news, Tubbs revealed Inter Dominion runner-up Better Eclipse was "no certainty" to tackle the Hunter Cup.

"After the Inter Dominion, the plan was to bypass the Hunter Cup and aim at the Miracle Mile," she said.

"We may still go that way, but like Just Believe, he's bounced back so well since Brisbane and seems great."

"It's opened the possibility of running him (in the Hunter Cup), but there's still a good chance we could stick to focusing on the Miracle Mile and beyond."