It’s a Helluva Cup win for Ewa

Young reinswoman Ewa Justice chalked up her second cup success in the last fortnight when she steered Helluva (Mach Three) to a first up harness racing win in the $30,000 Charlton Pacing Cup. 

Having his first outing since contesting the Brisbane Inter Dominion carnival in December, Helluva was driven out by Justice from his outside front row draw to find the lead and then was afforded a leisurely 63 second first half of the last mile. 

Justice gave Helluva ($4.40) more rein down the back straight and the son of Mach Three reeled off a 55.2 last 800 metres to score from the Julie Douglas trained stable mates Kosimo and Ideal Escape. 

Ewa Justice has combined with dad John to take out the Community Bank and district Charlton Pacing Cup with Helluva. pic.twitter.com/hOH4XYoq4c

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) March 17, 2024

Justice said Helluva went into the race without a trial since returning home from Brisbane. 

“We saw this race coming up and he had been back in work for 10 weeks and was fairly forward,” Justice said. 

Justice admitted she was keen to utilize Helluva’s early speed from a wide draw. 

“Most of the main dangers were off the back row so if I could get the lead it was going to help our chances because he can run a really fast last 800 metres,” she said. 

Justice said she was confident of victory on the home turn. 

“I knew Kosimo was on my back and he had been used up at the start to try and hold us out and we had no mid race pressure, he fired up a bit out of the gate but then he came back to me,” she said. 

Justice, who partnered Modern Bliss to victory in the Group 1 Tasmania Cup earlier this month, said Helluva is likely to make the trek to the Sunraysia to contest the heats of next month’s Mildura Pacing Cup. 

“He ran second in his heat last year and had no luck in the Final,” she said. 

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink