Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images)
An inch-perfect ride from Sam Collett enabled Matamata raider Justin Case (Banquo) to claim the feature event at Hastings on Saturday, the Listed Timberspan Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m).
The three-year-old son of Banquo had signed off his two-year-old campaign with a gritty fourth place in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie, off the back of a win in the Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m) on his home track.
Fitted for Saturday’s contest with a trial placing over 850m at Te Awamutu late last month, the Kris Shailer-prepared gelding was sent out a $2.50 Fixed Odds favourite, although he was hotly challenged for favouritism by Phillyjean ($2.60), who had finished runner-up in her three career starts to date.
Phillyjean briefly led after the first 300m before King Of The Air swept around and set a strong pace through to the home turn. Collett had Justin Case trucking along in fourth on the outer at that stage before moving into a challenging position rounding the home bend.
Justin Case hit the front at the 200m and fought off a strong challenge from Shambo Jack before the Lisa Latta-trained Pinafore roared home from last to push the eventual winner to a head at the winning post.
Shailer was thrilled with the fresh-up performance but urged caution on his New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) prospects at Riccarton in November as he considered whether that Group One contest was the right target for his charge.
“I have a lot of confidence in the horse as I really think he can gallop,” Shailer said.
“It was really good to see him settle outside the leader rather than having to be in front doing all the donkey work.
“He was pretty big in condition today and just held on, so it was great.
“I haven’t got a plan for him now and, although he has a nomination for the 2000 Guines, I’m just not sure we will go down that path.”
Bred by Waikato Stud, Justin Case is out of Group Two-winning Savabeel mare Do Ra Mi, and is a half-brother to Group Three performer Hanger.
Originally prepared for the 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale by Ohukia Lodge, he was withdrawn, and Waikato Stud, alongside Ohukia Lodge principal and part-owner Jamie Beatson, have benefited from that decision.
He has now won three of his five starts and a touch under $199,000 in prizemoney.
Exciting sprinter War Princess took out the feature open sprint on the day, the Dennis Pyke Memorial (1200m), with a dominant front-running performance in her first start back in a new campaign.
Apprentice Toni Davies rated the Peter and Trent Didham-prepared four-year-old to perfection as she set up proceedings to suit herself before holding out a storming late finish from Girl Talk and Honey Badger, who both flew home from near last rounding the home bend.
“She is a really tough mare and I’m excited to see what the season brings,” Davies said. “She kept on going as she was fit, although she will improve from that.”
The win was the sixth from 12 races for the daughter of U S Navy Flag, who has secured more than $365,000 in prizemoney.
