Justanexcuse Too Good For Northern Sprinters

9 April 2012

Hardy Awapuni sprinter-miler Justanexcuse took his career winning tally into double figures with an outstanding performance at Te Aroha on Saturday.

Under topweight of 59.5kg and on a dry surface, the No Excuse Needed (pictured) 5YO was brought with a perfectly-timed rails run by Kelly Myers to defy his open class rivals.

The WS-bred and sold gelding had been runner-up Green Supreme on his home track at his previous start and went one better, despite the underfoot conditions.

“I thought he would win the other day and he just got beaten,” Latta said. “We thought we’d run here and the rain was supposed to be coming all week and didn’t arrive, but it was a brilliant ride by Kelly.”

A half-brother to the dam of the Gr 1 Queensland Oaks winner Scarlett Lady Justanexcuse was sold by the farm for $105,000 during the Premier session at Karaka in 2008. He has now won 10 races and has earned more than $280,000.

He has rarely been far from the action this preparation with three wins, including the Gr 3 Challenge Stakes, but will now struggle with the handicapper in handicap events.

“He’s been up a long time and is almost at the stage where he’s a weight-for-age horse,” Latta said. “He’s had a fantastic season though and won a lot of money.”

The Corner with Garry Chittick

The two of you will be aware of my ongoing concern as to the future of our sport. You could argue I have a vested interest; well, I did have, but my interest now is to give the future generations the opportunity my generation had. Now I can tell you, hand on heart, there were many financial thin times. 1975 was my fledgling start with five mares on 130 acres that occasionally flooded with the well-bred, non-race-winning Super Gray.

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