The first Australian runner for reigning Champion Australian First Crop Sire Justify (USA) when she made her debut in the Group III ATC Gimcrack Stakes last year, Just Gisella became his first winner of the new season when resuming from a spell to win at Hawkesbury on Tuesday.
Trained by Michael Freedman, Just Gisella won at the official two year-old trials last spring before taking her place in the Gimcrack only to finish eighth of 14 on the very heavy track to Platinum Jubilee.
Given a good long spell and tuned up with two good trials last month, Just Gisella enjoyed a smooth run in transit just behind the leaders for Brett Preblle and when angled into the clear she hit the line well to win the 1100m maiden by a length over older rivals.
Just Gisella was a $200,000 Magic Millions purchase for James Bester Bloodstock from the Coolmore draft and runs for an ownership group that includes Robert McClure in whose colours she runs.
Bred by Dr Denis O’Brien and foaled and raised at Coolmore, she is a half-sister to good metro winner Agassi and is the second winner from Halle Rocks, a stakes-placed half-sister by Fastnet Rock to stakes-winner Diamond Earth.
Halle Rocks sadly died earlier this year but has a two year-old full sister to Just Gisella and a yearling colt by Yes Yes Yes.
Justify has had five winners from seven starters bred from mares by Fastnet Rock with brilliant Group II winning filly Learning to Fly the first stakes-winner bred this way.
Justify stands at Coolmore Australia this spring at a fee of $77,000.
