Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
On Friday at Geelong, Ballarat-based trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy saddled up Batrana, a daughter of the sire sensation Justify (USA).
Despite the 2-year-old chestnut being sent out as a 20-1 shot, she found plenty under the urgings of Harry Coffey to narrowly claim the 1200-metre contest from Meg’s Magic (Squamosa) and Furosshi (Street Boss {USA}).
Calvin McEvoy speaking post-race to Racing.com, said “That was a great result. She’s not an easy filly; she tests us daily, but she handled herself beautifully today.
“She’s going to mature and be better next time. We might just take the pressure off her, as she’s done a great job of coming to the races and winning. She’s a very raw filly and has some great upside.”
Coffey was very pleased with Batrana’s performance, “Great win. She showed some real grit late. Fighting off that other horse, usually when you see the horses on the outside get the momentum up, they get the bob. But she just had so much determination and really stuck her head out.
“She’s a lovely bred filly.”
“Great win. She (Batrana) showed some real grit late... she just had so much determination and really stuck her head out.” - Harry Coffey
Big things in store for Justify
Batrana became the eighth individual winner for the returning Coolmore stallion Justify, who will stand the 2023 breeding season at $77,000 (inc GST).
Bred and raced by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum. Bratana is the fourth foal from the Al Maher mare Badawiya, also raced by the Sheikh.
Badawiya won four races from 1200 to 1600 metres, including the G2 Edward Manifold S. and the G2 Kewney S., and was placed in the G1 Thousand Guineas.
Badawiya when racing | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
She also hails from the family of Rageese, who is a winner at Group 3 level and was placed in the G1 Sires’ Produce S.
The November-born filly has shown plenty of ability which has not become an uncommon occurrence for the progeny of Justify.
The Triple Crown-winning son of Scat Daddy (USA) is set to be crowned the Champion First Season Sire for 2022/23 leading his peers by earnings and stakes wins (five).
Justify (USA) | Standing at Coolmore
No surprises
Justify had a first crop of 96 foals, 19 of which have hit the track, for eight individual winners of 11 races, including three stakes winners.
Heading the Justify assault is the outstanding filly Learning To Fly, trained by Annabel Neasham, she was a three-time winner in the autumn, including the G2 Reisling S., the G3 Widden S., and the rich R. Listed Inglis Millennium.
Others include the Group 3 victor Air Assault and the very exciting Legacies, just a few.
Learning To Fly | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The result is not surprising for Coolmore’s Nominations and Sales Paddy Oman.
“Justify hasn’t exceeded our expectations because we expected great things from him to start with,” Oman told TTR AusNZ.
“This is why we supported him with the best mares we could find, not only in his first season but again in his second season. Next season’s juveniles are out of mares like Sunlight, who sold for $1.4 million, Invincibella, a $750,000 yearling purchase, and progeny from Champagne Cuddles and Nakeeta Jane, who sold for $700,000, respectively, so there is some serious quality coming through, which is very exciting.”
“Justify hasn’t exceeded our expectations because we expected great things from him to start with.” - Paddy Oman
The colt out of the Champion mare Sunlight was sold for $1.4 million at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale to Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing, and Kestrel Thoroughbreds has since been named Dawn Service.
The success has seen Justify’s return to one of the most anticipated for the upcoming season.
“The exploits of his progeny on the track have been reflected in his popularity with breeders this season, and he was one of our first stallions to be fully booked.”
Paddy Oman | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Justify hasn’t just been impressing the Australian market and posted some outstanding results in his native land of the United States of America. Recently siring his first Group 1 winner Arabian Lion (USA), and then doubled up when Aspen Grove (USA) took out the G1 Belmont Oaks.
“Justify is about to be crowned Champion First Season Sire in Australia, and while his winners to date have been incredibly exciting, it is what we are hearing from the trainers of some of his other 2-year-olds that we haven’t seen yet which is even more encouraging,” Orman said.
“... while his winners to date have been incredibly exciting, it is what we are hearing from the trainers of some of his other 2-year-olds that we haven’t seen yet which is even more encouraging.” - Paddy Oman
“The world is his oyster, and so is Australia. Justify also looks to have some extremely talented juveniles in Europe this season. He currently has Europe’s highest-rated juvenile filly, a Group 3 winner part-owned by Matthew Sandblom called Ramatuelle, and Ballydoyle’s City Of Troy, who is well-fancied in a Group race at Newmarket over the weekend.”
