Dad knows best

Emerging young harness racing reinswoman Ewa Justice heeded some fatherly advice as she headed out onto the track behind Helluva (Mach Three) in the Lennytheshark Free For All at Melton.  

“You just drive this horse right and rate him well and you will win,” were the words of wisdom John Justice imparted to his daughter prior to the race.

And Ewa carried out the instructions to the letter. 

Justice urged the six-year-old out of the pole and was able to retain the front running as she took the field through a 60.4 first half of the last mile followed up by a 28.4 back straight quarter. 

The race then developed into a frantic dash to the line with Helluva ($4.40) reeling off a 26.9 last 400 metres to hold off noted sit sprinter Triple Eight by a head with Tango Tara a gallant third after sitting parked. 

Helluva goes all-the-way in the IRT Lennytheshark Free For All for the father-daughter team John & Ewa Justice. pic.twitter.com/cycUJWkD9J

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Justice admitted she was keen to lessen the mid-race tempo. 

“It was such a big relief, I love the horse and it felt like a very long straight but credit to him he dug very deep and I probably would have liked to go a bit slower but he got the job done so I’m pretty happy with that,” Justice said. 

Justice acknowledged she was able to make full use of a favorable barrier with Triple Eight awaiting use of the sprint lane. 

“I just wanted to wait as long as possible knowing Triple Eight was on my back and I am super happy that he was able to sprint hard enough and it shows what a good barrier draw can do for a horse like him,” she said. 

“The whole way Greg (Sugars) was hitting me on the helmet trying to get me to go faster.” 

The win was Helluva’s fifth metropolitan success and took his stake earnings to more than $170,000. 

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink