Justify Filly Impresses at Randwick

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday May 14

Talented two year-old Justify (USA) filly Just a Journey cast off maiden status at her second start at Kembla last month and had no trouble carrying winning form to town to score at Randwick on Wednesday.

Just a Journey salutes at Randwick - image Bradley Photograohy.

Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Just a Journey was sent forward in the 1400m contest and controlled the race throughout before skipping clear in the heavy ground to win by a length and a half.

With two wins and a placing from three starts, Just a Journey has done a great job earning over $84,000 and showing plenty of promise for the future.

“She's very, very straightforward. Tommy wrote it great, got her out of the gate cleanly and she was able to dictate from the front and was too strong late,” said stable representative Ben Duckworth.

Advertisement

A $400,000 Magic Millions purchase from Kia Ora Stud for James Bester Bloodstock, Just a Journey runs for a syndicate of owners that includes Bester and also Rob McClure of Morning Rise Stud in whose colours she runs.

Just a Journey was a $400,000 Magic Millions purchase.

Just a Journey is the second winner from well related Snitzel mare Caravan, a placed sister to Group I winner Wild Ruler and half-sister to Group III winner Pavitra from US Group II winner Gypsy Robin (USA).

Just a Journey looks a progressive filly for her champion sire Justify, who will be offered to Australian breeders to Southern Hemisphere time by Coolmore from their Kentucky base of Ashford Stud, while his champion son City of Troy will come to Australia at a fee of $49,500.

Advertisment

Race Result - Schweppes Hcp 1400m

Randwick-Kensington Track: Heavy(8) Time: 1:24.67
1
Just A Journey
- 2f Justify (USA) x Caravan (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Freedman Rdr: Tommy Berry 56
2
1.4
Jenni Gone Bonkers
- 2f Maurice (JPN) x Lamarque (AUS) (Pierro (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Ashley Morgan 54.5
3
2
Ripley
- 2c Too Darn Hot (GB) x Duvessa (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: J R Collett 56.5
4
3.8
Angel Feet
- 2g Almanzor (FR) x Critical Angel (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56
5
5.2
Is It Spectacular
- 2c Dundeel (NZ) x Is What It Is (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: Sara Ryan Rdr: C Schofield 58.5
6
6.1
Marcantonio
- 2g Circus Maximus (IRE) x Shama De Oro (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: David Payne Rdr: K S Latham 56.5
7
6.8
Philatelic
- 2c Street Boss (USA) x Asiago (AUS) (Medaglia D'oro (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: K Mc Evoy 57
8
6.8
Don Ottavio
- 2c Castelvecchio (AUS) x Santa Rocks (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Richard Litt Rdr: J Parr 56.5
9
10
Serpico
- 2g Shamus Award (AUS) x Vassiliki (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: David Payne Rdr: J Ford 55.5
10
11.4
Solid
- 2g Wootton Bassett (GB) x Romantic Vision (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Tyler Schiller 56.5
11
11.8
Daylight Can Wait
- 2f All Too Hard (AUS) x Zazita (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: A B Collett 54.5
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Inglis Digital - Darby Swoop on Amazing Eagle for $310,000
Scott Darby believes today’s Inglis Digital sale-topper Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) can continue along the same successful mould as the likes of former online Darby acquisitions Robusto, Caballus and Imperial Force and progress on to become a future racetrack star.
G1 Champions Mile Next for Ceolwulf
Trainer Joe Pride will likely keep stable star Ceolwulf to a mile as he looks to round off his spring campaign with a first trip away.
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
First Win for $2.1million Magic Millions Sale-Topper
It was a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at Te Aroha on Wednesday when Avantaggia, the filly that topped the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, broke through for her maiden win in the Donaghys Moxipor (1150m).
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 21
Here is the full list of 15 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Henry Longfellow Pedigree Gets an Update
Group I winning Dubawi stallion Henry Longfellow (IRE) is covering his first Australian book of mares at Rosemont Stud this spring and overnight in Ireland his two year-old sister-in-blood landed her first Group race win.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Hawkesbury
A lone 2YO went around in an 800m trial for two and three year-olds at Hawkesbury on Tuesday and the Snitzel colt won in good style carrying the Mulberry Racing colours.
NZB Ready to Run Breeze Ups Complete for 2025
The final day of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw a further 202 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa Racecourse.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.