Justacanta in Linlithgow Upset

Mark Smith - Saturday October 30

Less than half a length covered the first four in Saturday's $300,000 Group II Linlithgow Stakes (1200m) at Flemington, but it was the outsider of the field, to the punters' chagrin, who did best in a driving finish.

Justacanta makes his winning run out wide (image Grant Courtney)

The Patrick Payne-trained Justacanta (Per Incanto) peeled off runners to chase down the admirably honest topweight Kemalpasa (Magnus) by a short-head with a nose back to Isaurian (Exceed And Excel) in third.

Justacanta won the Listed Paris Lane Stakes at Flemington on October 2 before finishing third behind Buffalo River (USA) and King Magnus in the Group III Moonga Stakes at Caulfield.

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It advances the 8yo geldings record to eight wins, eight seconds, and 13 thirds from52 starts with earnings of $458,227.

Winning rider Dean Yendall said the stable expected a forward showing.

"Patrick was pretty keen on him on the way he'd been working and the way he'd been looking going into today," Yendall said.

"He did think it might be a bit strong for him, but it was worth a throw at the stumps.

"It was a funny run race. We split. It was only a small field, but I didn't expect to split like that. I thought my best option halfway was to follow Brooklyn Hustle to get the slipstream.

"I thought I had plenty in hand, and he attacked the line well. I probably rode him a bit good at Caulfield. He didn't find the line, whereas the start before here he got held up and was really strong to the line.

Justacanta Dean Yendall (image Grant Courtney)

"I was saying to Patrick when we rode some work at St Arnaud during the week that I thought I got going a little bit early on him at Caulfield. He didn't really finish the race off.

"I had that in the back of my mind to have the last crack at them, and Patrick was trying to do the same sort of thing."

Justacanta made his first 47 starts in New Zealand for Shaun and Emma Clotworthy.

Bred by Little Avondale Stud, the son of Per Incanto (USA), is the best of four winners from seven to race out of the Casual Lies mare Just Casual, a sister to the Group 1 New Zealand Derby winner So Casual.

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Race Result - Linlithgow Hcp Gr2 1200m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:10.06
1
Justacanta
- 8g Per Incanto (USA) x Just Casual (NZ) (Casual Lies (USA))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: D Yendall 53
2
0.1
Kemalpasa
- 6g Magnus (AUS) x Yarra Bank (AUS) (Bianconi (USA))
Tnr: R & C Jolly Rdr: Craig Williams 58
Magnus
3
0.2
Isaurian
- 7g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Byzantine (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: D Oliver 55.5
4
0.4
Brooklyn Hustle
- 5m Starspangledbanner (AUS) x Joint Aspiration (GB) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: J Warren & D Krongold Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55.5
5
1.4
Samizdat
- 6g Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Sambar (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: C & M Gangemi Rdr: M J Dee 53
6
1.5
Oxley Road
- 4h Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Bonnie Mac (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: B Mc Dougall 53
7
6.7
Instant Celebrity
- 4m Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Celebrity Girl (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Ben Allen 56
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