Bonecrusher Stakes next for Justin Case

Trainer Kris Shailer has confirmed that his exciting three-year-old Justin Case will bypass next month’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in favour of stakes targets closer to home.

The son of Banquo put in a herculean effort when just getting pipped at the post by Coniston in Monday’s Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Te Rapa, and Shailer was rapt with his performance.

“I am very proud of him, it was excellent,” Shailer said. “I said to Sam (Collett, jockey) before the race that he is going to have to run a PB, and he did, without getting the chocolates. It was a very good run.

“I am really happy to see him do it on top of the ground, which I always thought he would. He had a wet tracker’s label put on him, which I thought was a bit unfair, and he proved that he can go on top of the ground.”

Bred by Waikato Stud, Justin Case is raced by the Matamata farm in partnership with Jamie Beatson, and he now boasts an enviable record of three wins and two placings from six starts, including victories in the Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m) and Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m).

While next month’s New Zealand 2000 Guineas dangled as a big carrot, Shailer doesn’t think Justin Case would be suited by the mile and has opted to keep him home and target the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on December 5.

“It (2000 Guineas) was never really the plan,” Shailer said. “You just throw those noms in because they are three and see what happens. I think the mile at Riccarton will be too tough for him.

“He will just have a quiet week this week and then we will get ready for the Bonecrusher on December 5. It will probably be his last run this prep, he will probably have a little let-up after that and then I will have a yarn with the team and see what direction we go in.”

Waikato Stud hold a slot in the $4.5 million The NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day in March, and it presents as a logical target for their promising homebred.

“I think that (The NZB Kiwi) is every three-year-olds ultimate aim,” Shailer said. “There is a lot of water to go under the bridge between now and then, so we will just take it one race at a time and see how we go.”

Stablemate Magice also placed at Te Rapa on Monday after winning first-up at Matamata earlier this month, and Shailer is now contemplating his next step.

“He was super and lobbed a big weight,” Shailer said. “He is a tricky horse to place with a 76 rating. Whether we go back to a 75 in 10 days and claim off him or just hang around and wait for an open 1400m and try and get in at the bottom of the weights.”

News from: LOVERACING.NZ News Desk