One of only two fillies in the field and untested previously in stakes company, progressive Justify (USA) filly Just Feelin’ Lucky scored a valuable victory in the $200,000 Group III BRC Gunsynd Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
With two wins and a second in her three runs this preparation, Just Feelin’ Lucky appeared to have gone to a new level, so her trainer Michael Freedman elected to give her a shot at something better.
She relished the step up in distance and return to firm footing, leading throughout for Tommy Berry to win by more than a length over the Godolphin runner Pisces.
Just Feelin’ Lucky was a modest $80,000 Magic Millions purchase for James Bester Bloodstock from the Ashleigh Thoroughbreds draft and has the overall record four wins and two seconds from eight starts with prizemoney topping $240,000.
Her large group of owners, who include James Bester, have already had plenty of fun with her, but the significance of a Group win on the resume will pay big dividends when it comes time for her to switch from being a racehorse to broodmare.
Michael Freedman revealed her success today was the result of a plan well executed right down to the front running tactics.
“It (leading) might be the place to be today, I suppose we'll wait and see, but she's that style of horse, you know, those Justify’s, I think they love just sort of free-rolling up in front,” he said.
“I had a good chat to Tommy before the race, and that was sort of the idea, if we could dictate the race from the front, and it panned out perfectly.
“Obviously, she's come through the lower-grade races, so to get G3 on the record today is just fabulous.
“They're a good bunch of owners, and after she won at Canterbury the other day, I said, well, we might as well go and have a shot at the stumps. It's getting to the back end of the season and she'll turn four pretty soon. I thought, well, let's go and have a crack at some Black Type, so she's quite a valuable filly now.”
The plan was always to spell Just Feelin’ Lucky after today, win, lose or draw, but the lure of the upcoming Group I Tatts Tiara (June 28) may give rise to consideration.
Just Feelin’ Lucky was bred by respected breeder Catherine Remond and comes from one of her very best families claiming Group winning blue hen Twiglet as her third dam.
Just Feelin’ Lucky is the second foal and second winner from Phylicia, a placed half-sister by Pierro to dual Group I winner Cosmic Endeavour from stakes-winner Crevette.
Phylicia had a yearling colt by Acrobat sell at Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale this year to John Foote Bloodstock and she produced a colt foal last year by Justify before going to Capitalist.
Just Feelin’ Lucky is the 48th stakes-winner for Justify, whose champion son City of Troy (USA) will be available at Coolmore Australia this spring at a fee of $49,500.
Justify will be available for Southern Hemisphere covers at Coolmore’s Kentucky base of Ashford Stud.
