90-year-old makes her training comeback

Josie Justice, the mother of harness racing greats John and Lance, last prepared a winner back in 1995 with a horse named Grand Revival.

And now she’s making a revival of her own with a return to the training ranks this Wednesday night.

Justice, at the age of 90, will have her first runner at the races since 2002 when Daisy Starzzz makes her debut in the Hunter Rural 2YO Pace at Bendigo. See fields here.

The Melton local often gives her yearling purchases to son John to train, but decided now was the time to make a comeback with a little filly by Four Starzzz Shark.

“I thought it might be my last hurrah,” she told thetrots.com.au.

“I’m getting on in years and thought it would be nice to train a winner.

“I do miss it. And there’s nothing like training a winner wherever it is.

“She’s a nice little filly. Probably can’t win on Wednesday, but she’ll run a nice race. She’s got a bit of a future.”

The COVID-19 lockdown in Victoria has been tough for most, but Justice is thankful she’s been able to escape the confines of her home and make daily visits to John’s property to train her beloved “Daisy”.

“It’s wonderful, it’s just wonderful,” Justice, who got her trainer’s licence at age 19, said.

“That’s what keeps me going.

“I’m only about 10 minutes from where John trains and I train from John’s property.

“Every day, seven days a week. I don’t have holidays. The horses don’t know it’s a holiday.

“I love my family, I love what they do and the hard work that goes into it.”

John will be trusted to drive Daisy Starzzz, with the filly heading to the races after a third placing at the trials on August 17.

Her dam is the modestly performed In A Rose Tattoo, who raced more than 100 times for five wins and has only produced the one foal so far.

Daisy Starzzz has been rated as a $9 chance by form analyst Craig Rail, with the race to go at 7.03pm.

Justice, who last drove winners back in the mid-1990s, appeared on RSN on Tuesday morning to speak with Gareth Hall about her return to training.

“I thought I’d have another shot at it,” she said.

“I just love harness racing and I like the challenge.”

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