Back Scaling The Heights

Mark Smith - Saturday July 27

When Scales Of Justice won the Group 1 Railway Stakes before a close second in the Group 1 Kingston Town Stakes in the final few weeks of 2016, the son of Not A Single Doubt looked capable of mixing it with the best in the country.

Trainer Lindsey Smith has had his problems with the 6yo gelding who had not won since capturing the Group III Strickland Stakes at Belmont over two years ago.

Advertisement


So it was no surprise when Smith was emotional after Scales Of Justice put a class field to the sword in Saturday's Group III Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield. (images Grant Courtney )

"I didn't think he'd ever race again," Smith told racing.com.

"I nursed him because I didn't want to break him and I've spoiled him but he's repaid us all today.

"It was a bit emotional and I had to stay back there because I got a bit teary," Smith admitted after the race. "They are like your children.

"He's a wonderful horse. He's got the best eyes. I've said it many times that he's got the best character of any horse I've ever seen or dealt with."

With the favourite Cesar ripping and tearing back in the field, Dean Yendall had Scales Of Justice travelling sweetly behind the grand old warrior Jungle Edge (Dubawi) who had no answer to the finishing burst of the Not A Single Doubt gelding who went on to win by three and a quarter lengths. Jungle Edge was two and a half lengths ahead of third-placed Cliff's Edge (Canford Cliffs).

With his fifth stakes victory, Scales Of Justice advances his overall record to 10 wins, 8 seconds and 3 thirds from 24 starts with earnings of $317,350.


Bred by Gerard and Kathy Hammond, Scales Of Justice was consigned to the 2014 Inglis Premier Yearling sale by Milford Thoroughbreds where he was knocked down to Boomer Bloodstock/Lindsey Smith for $180,000.

A half-brother to three winners including the stakes-placed Cruyfforme (Johan Cruyff), Scales Of Justice is the sixth live foal of the unraced Umatilla mare Beymatilla, a half-sister to the stakes-placed Rancho Rose and to the dam of Group III VRC Standish Handicap winner King Hoaks (King Charlemagne).

Beymatilla was consigned to the 2014 Great Southern Bloodstock Sale where she could not make her paltry $400 reserve but she did not have a live foal after Scales Of Justice and was pensioned after missing to Magnus in 2015.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
Two trials at Rosehill on Wednesday morning featured juvenile winners by Russian Revolution and Snitzel, while we also got a first look at the $1.7million full brother to Group I ATC Flight Stakes winner Apocalyptic.
2025 VRC Oaks Pedigree Preview – Who is Bred to Stay?
The $1million Group I VRC Oaks (2500m) is the highlight at Flemington on Thursday and with all of the fillies on trial at the trip, pedigree can be a good indicator and in a field of 13 that features no G1 winners it’s a real year for the up and comers.
Consecutive Stakes Victories For Cafe Millenium
While it may have taken until he turned 5yo to record his first stakes victory, it only took until his very next start to record his second as the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained Cafe Millenium added Saturday’s Listed VRC Tontonan Stakes (1400m) to his last start Listed SAJC Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) win.
More Stakes Success for Go Bloodstock’s Thalassophile
Sir Owen Glenn and his Go Bloodstock has had some great results this year with his fillies that include Golden Slipper winner Lady of Camelot, but it was the turn of one of the older girls on Saturday with five year-old Not a Single Doubt mare Thalassophile returning to top form with a classy win in the $160,000 Listed  Silk Stocking (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast.
Farmer no property GST argument a loser at Tribunal
Back in May of this year I was very pleased to share details of a tax case that held that a farmer need not pay Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on the subdivision and sale of his 10-acre holding. CGT was avoided as it only applies to capital assets acquired on or after 19 September 1985.
$3.7Million Mare Tops Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale Day 1
Lush Lips (GB), who won Keeneland’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana last month, sold for $3.7 million to Dixiana Farm to top Tuesday’s Book 1 opener of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. A strong weanling trade and the sale of 17 horses for $1 million or more also marked the session, which posted double-digit increases across the board.
Defeat Not an Option
Cambridge visitor Not An Option showed he will be a force to be reckoned with in the juvenile features this season when he produced a powerful finishing burst to take out the Group II Platinum Homes Taranaki Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Trentham.
Not A Single Doubts Gotta Kiss Another Proven Winner
Aided by a rails hugging ride by Stephanie Thornton, Proven Thoroughbreds two-year-old filly Gotta Kiss fought off a stubborn Lady Banff in Saturday’s $125,000 Basil Nolan Junior Two-Year-Old (1000m) at Eagle Farm and booked her ticket to the Magic Millions 2yo Classic.
Hello Youmzain Filly Primed for G1 Guineas
Tony Pike couldn’t have wished for a smoother lead-up with Cream Tart ahead of the filly’s sternest challenge at Riccarton.
Homegrown glory- Victorian-bred Half Yours claims the 2025 Melbourne Cup
The Australian breeding industry was in the spotlight at Flemington yesterday as Half Yours — bred by Janice and the late Colin McKenna — stormed to victory in the 165th running of the $10 million Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200 m) under a superbly judged ride from Jamie Melham.