Stable star to rise to the top

John Justice isn’t holding out much confidence of a Group 1 success during Saturday’s blockbuster night of harness racing features at Tabcorp Park Melton, but still might leave headquarters with a real spring in his step thanks to the newly-crowned “star of the stable”.

Justice has elevated New Zealand import Mufasa Metro to the top of his Toolern Vale barn and it’s easy to see why after two breathtaking wins in recent weeks.

The son of Father Patrick led and bolted in by more than 25m at Melton on April 16 and easily handled a classy free for all field on April 30 to stamp himself as a real trotter on the rise.

“He’s the star of the stable right now,” the trainer-driver told Trots Talk.

“He’s a quite intriguing horse. He’s a pretty laid-back character, he gets a bit keen sometimes in races, but he’s got one of those attitudes that nothing really fazes him too much and he’s just going from strength to strength.”

MUFASA METRO APRIL 30 REPLAY

Justice is likely to give the four-year-old a little break following this Saturday night’s IRT Trotters Handicap, which will be just his second standing start assignment since arriving in Australia at the back end of last year.

Mufasa Metro debuted on our shores with victory from the tapes at Cranbourne in October, but has been tried under mobile conditions ever since.

Lining up to beat him on Saturday night is the likes of Ultimate Stride, the 2019 Redwood Classic and Breeders Crown 2YO Colts and Geldings champ now in the care of Chris Lang, Kerryn Manning’s talented mare Adelle and South Australian visitor C K Spur (Ryan Hryhorec).

After the run and subsequent break, Justice has one big series at the forefront of his mind.

“The Inter Dominion is definitely his target,” he said.

Heats for this year’s Inter Dominion Championships will be held at Ballarat, Shepparton and Geelong before the grand finals at Melton on December 10.

Justice has four runners engaged on Saturday night at Tabcorp Park, with two youngsters ready for their first crack at an elite level contest.

Johnthebullshark, an early son of new sire Lennytheshark, will tackle the APG Vic Gold Bullion 2YO Colts and Geldings Final from barrier five, with stablemate Whirlwind Wilbur to line up in the Aldebaran Park Vicbred Platinum Home Grown Classic 2YO Trotting Colts and Geldings Final.

Justice’s other runner on the card is Huli Nien, who is looking to bounce back from an unlucky third placing last weekend in the TAB Young Pedro Free For All.

Six Group 1s will be run and won on Saturday night, with more than $800,000 in prizemoney up for grabs across the 12-race card. Jason Bonnington, Nikkita Ross and Rob Auber will join caller Lachlan McIntosh for the wall-to-wall TrotsVision coverage, which will kick-off just before the first event at 4.54pm.

LISTEN TO JUSTICE ON THIS WEEK’S EPISODE OF TROTS TALK BELOW:

For complete race entries, click here.

by Tim O’Connor for HRV