A carbon-copy of Lucky Justice’s last-start winning tactics went a long way in seeing the strapping galloper hit paydirt again on Friday night.
Five weeks ago, the towering son of Purrealist sat three wide for Glen Boss for the best part of a 1600m race for Class 4 Division 2 gallopers before slogging it out inside the last 300m to gain a head win from the fast-finishing Chase.
Throw in more or less the same ingredients in the mix – except for the rider with Boss away in Australia on holidays and swapping with Michael Rodd and an even worst draw (13 versus 7) – and invariably, trainer Steven Burridge would be loath to change a winning formula.
Leaping straight out of the machine, Lucky Justice was scrubbed up early just to take up a prominent spot, before again being charted on a wide trip while punching the breeze, but always ambling well within his own steam.
Upfront, Manoel Nunes had slammed on the brakes aboard Knight Chen Bay, but Super Joe (Barend Vorster) would not be caught napping as he came to serve it up to Knight Chen Bay on the outside in an obvious bid to wrest the lead or pre-empt any tactical sit-and-sprint affair.
Nunes immediately responded by clicking Knight Chen Bay up to match motors with Super Joe while Lucky Justice ($32) had no other choice but to throw down the gauntlet by circumnavigating the two eye-balling leaders as the final turn loomed.
In one fell swoop, Lucky Justice dashed to the front, but Super Joe was not done for the night as he mounted a stiff fightback on Lucky Justice’s nearside. For a fleeting moment, it looked like Super Joe would turn back the tables, but Lucky Justice still had some petrol left as he clung on to a slender half-length advantage all the way to the line.
Arr Flair (Alan Munro) finished third another length away. The winning time was 1min 40.07secs for the Polytrack mile.
Burridge said that with his ample corpulence and giant strides, Lucky Justice is cut out for such free-galloping tactics on the periphery.
“Glen rode him the same way at his last win. He’s got big strides and you cannot break his stride, just steady him up on the outside and he will then race at his best,” said the Australian mentor.
“Michael was supposed to ride him last week but the race was scratched. As Glen is still away, I put Michael on and he rode this horse a treat.”
Rodd certainly got the timing down pat even if he was getting a leg-up on the Lucky Stable-owned galloper for the first time in a race. He trialled him once.
“This horse is really flying at the moment. He’s got a great set of lungs and he does it at both ends,” said Rodd.
“Steve said he would be wound up but I was able to get a rest twice - down the back and coming down the hill. I got to work on him from the 600m and he showed a good will to win.”
With that second success from 11 outings, Lucky Justice has seen his account swell to just under $90,000 for the Lucky Stable of Mr Robert Ng.
