Maryborough win was meant to be!

Highly successful Victorian trainer-driver John Justice is sure his late mum Josie had a hand in proceedings when the stable scored an emotional victory at the Maryborough harness racing meeting on Friday afternoon.

Josie, a much-loved industry participant and a pioneer of the sport for more than 70 years, died three days earlier on her 91st birthday after a short battle with cancer.

“Mum told me in her last few days that she would be with us for a few runs after she went and after that we’d probably be on our own – so call it divine intervention or help from above, but we’ve posted two nice wins,” Justice said.

Justice drove a brilliant race on four-year-old gelding Rock Nien (Rocknroll Dance) to win the Carisbrook Motors Members Draw Pace at Maryborough—and followed up the next night at Melton with an all-the-way victory with Helluva (Mach Three) in the DNR Logistics Pace.

“After a difficult week, it was hard to pick ourselves up and go to the races. In the end we decided that mum would be bloody angry if we didn’t go,” he said.

“So off to Maryborough we went together to celebrate and remember mum.”

Justice is still bemused as to how he got in behind the leader with “George” (Rock Nien) after starting in the number five alley.

ROCK NIEN REPLAY

“I certainly got a helping hand there, I think. That was unreal. Later all the gaps opened up when I needed them. We were all thinking of mum and how much she would have loved to have been celebrating with us,” he said.

“She only told us recently that Maryborough was her favorite track – she just loved the meals there, but I think it was the train ride to attend the Redwood that was special.”

It would also be fair to say that the venue would rate highly for Justice as well. Over the years he’s taken home the Maryborough Gold Cup, the Trotters Cup and the Redwood, just to name a few.

Justice said there were exciting things to come with Helluva, who ran a career best race to win at Melton.

“Everything worked out perfectly, but I reckon he’s a cup horse in the making. He’s owned by Mark Gurry,” he said.

Josie Justice scored her final victory as a trainer at age 90, on January 7 this year with square gaiter High In the Sky at Melton. Justice said he would take over the training of the two horses previously trained by Josie, High In the Sky and pacer Daisy Starzzz.

“Mum came out to the stables for as long as she could – really up until last month and she played a major role in the gear and the feeding of her horses.  I was getting a bit emotional when I was with her at one stage and she told me not to be sad,” he said.

“She was a grand lady to the end.”

*A funeral service for Josie will be held on Thursday, June 9, at the Michael Crawford Funeral Chapel, 226 Main St, Bacchus Marsh. Celebration of life will follow at the Bacchus Marsh Bowling Club at 15 Lord St, Bacchus Marsh. For those who cannot attend, a live stream will be available at michaelcrawfordfunerals.com (select funeral live stream).

For complete Maryborough results, click here.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink