Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Michael Freedman’s self-confessed ‘roll at the stumps’ in running Just Feelin’ Lucky (Justify {USA}) in Saturday’s G3 Gunsynd Classic paid off in fine style, with the 3-year-old filly proving there was no luck required for her bold, front-running victory. The win took her prizemoney to over $240,000 including bonus, a tidy turnaround on just $80,000 spent in the ring.
Eminent bloodstock agent James Bester landed the winning bid at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, selecting the filly from the Ashleigh Thoroughbreds draft. While first dam Phylicia (Pierro) had yet to impress with either performance or progeny, he found more than enough potential further down the page.
Just Feelin' Lucky as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Under the radar
“She was a Justify filly that I spotted on the farm there in presale inspections, and I thought to myself, ‘okay, the mother hasn't done much, (but) this one should do the Global Glamour ladies syndicate quite well’,” Bester said. “‘She'll probably make under $100,000’. And I went to the sale, she had a reserve of $80,000 on her, so I bought her and offered her to that ladies syndicate.”
Bester sourced Global Glamour (Star Witness) for just $65,000 as a yearling; she finished a stellar racing career with $1.56 million in the bank and was sold to Coolmore, Gerry Harvey, and Bester for $1.55 million as a broodmare.
“For whatever reason, they were not inspired by her, so I then put her together with a different group of friends and clients, just thinking, ‘wow, she's a Justify’.”
Just Feelin' Lucky kicks clear in the G3 Gunsynd Classic at Eagle Farm on Saturday | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Bester confesses he is “notorious” in his affection for the Coolmore stallion, who was an unbeaten Triple Crown winner on the track. Justify’s (USA) first Southern Hemisphere-bred juveniles had shown whispers of talent before Christmas in 2022, but the buying bench was wary while trainers still sought to figure them out.
Just Feelin’ Lucky’s broader page had more than enough appeal for Bester to justify - no pun intended - the spend.
“I'm well aware and have been for a short while that Pierro is on his way to becoming a very significant broodmare sire,” he said. “Although the mare couldn't run, she was a half-sister to Cosmic Endeavor. The next dam was the half-sister to Fairy King Prawn, one of the international greats. Very undervalued and underpriced, there's no question.”
“I'm well aware and have been for a short while that Pierro is on his way to becoming a very significant broodmare sire.” - James Bester
Phylicia’s dam Crevette (Danehill {USA}) was no slouch herself, winning three Listed events, two at two, and placing in the G3 Champagne Classic. Aside from producing her and Hong Kong great Fairy King Prawn (Danehill {USA}), she also produced G2 Salinger Stakes-winning sire Easy Rocking and counted Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes winner Troach (Epaulette) amongst her descendants.
“At that kind of money, she just had to be had.”
James Bester | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Patience pays off
“She took a bit of time to show,” Bester said. “But Michael Freedman, who I have to credit, was very patient with her. He always said, ‘there's something in this filly I really like. We've just got to let her grow and develop confidence’.”
“He (Michael Freedman) always said, ‘there's something in this filly I really like. We've just got to let her grow and develop confidence’.” - James Bester
Just Feelin’ Lucky debuted in the autumn of her juvenile season, running midfield in a couple of provincial contests behind future stars - including debuting with G2 Phar Lap Stakes winner Lazzura (Snitzel) - but Freedman had faith that the filly would blossom as a 3-year-old. After going close in a Hawkesbury maiden in October, she broke her maiden at the fourth time of asking, trouncing another provincial field by four lengths.
Returning in the middle of this autumn, Just Feelin’ Lucky won two of her next three starts, finishing second in between her two wins, and Freedman began to eye up the Queensland carnival.
“She always showed him that she had something,” Bester said. “Really, she's never run a bad race, and on the odd occasion when she has been beaten and runs second, she probably should have won, but had a very tough run from a wider draw or something.
“So we went into this Group race, I wouldn't say confident, but happy that we had a filly who deserves to be there.”
Bowling along
Just Feelin’ Lucky ran just as hoped, and delivered a class record in the Gunsynd, defeating Pisces (Frosted {USA}) by more than a length after sustaining first position from before the 800-metre mark. For Bester and the ownership group, it was a great thrill to see her so effortlessly make the step up in class.
“The key was Michael Freedman's grasp of the fact that the Justify progeny, like Justify himself, like to jump and bowl along,” Bester said. “They appear to have these cardiovascular systems and big strides that, if you can get them out there bowling along in a rhythm, they're hard to catch. They are hard to run down. Obviously, the ultimate example of that is City of Troy.”
“They (Justify's progeny) appear to have these cardiovascular systems and big strides that, if you can get them out there bowling along in a rhythm, they're hard to catch.” - James Bester
With Justify not shuttling down under this year, he sends an excellent replacement in his stead, in the form of Cartier Horse of the Year and four-time Group 1 winner City Of Troy (USA).
Bester is surprised that there are not more trainers that have figured out the Justify playbook yet.
“Michael was the first to grasp it, and here we are now with a filly who is actually worth something and has a lot of racing left. She’s getting better and better with every start. We look forward to bringing her back in the spring, where obviously we'll target some of those nice mares races and see where we’ll get with her. We don’t know her limit yet.”
“We don’t know her (Just Feelin' Lucky's) limit yet.” - James Bester
Just Feelin’ Lucky headed to the paddock on Sunday morning; while the temptation of the G1 Tattersall’s Tiara was strong, connections felt it was better to save her.
“There is the spectre of the Tiara in two weeks’ time, but against the older mares, we've resisted the temptation,” Bester said. “That's been Michael Freedman’s modus operandi with her all the way through, which is don't go that bridge too far and wait for it to come to you.”
Michael Freedman | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Justifying the purchase
By the end of the 2022/23 racing season, the turnaround on Justify’s progeny had been enormous; Learning To Fly and Air Assault had begun to bolster his standing, which would rise to a new height the following season with the exploits of Stormy Boy, who is set for a Royal Ascot appearance next weekend under the tutelage of Aidan O’Brien.
Justify’s lukewarm appeal in early 2023 was a large contributor to the price that Just Feelin’ Lucky and fellow Magic Millions graduate Storm Boy made - the latter was a $460,000 purchase for Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott Racing, and Bruce Slade’s Kestrel Thoroughbreds from Coolmore themself.
“Given his pedigree and his fantastic physical presence, had he (Storm Boy) been by one of the big three, he would have made a million,” Bester said. “So magnificent was he, out of a Fastnet Rock mare from a super family. There was probably a little bit of an opportunity in the Justify market at that stage. I didn't know anybody who was actively looking for them.”
“Had he (Stormy Boy) been by one of the big three, he would have made a million.” - James Bester
Justify had always been on Bester’s radar, of course.
“Any horse that does what he did in winning the Triple Crown is a very special animal. I love it when the local market underestimates international bloodlines.”
There hasn’t been any underestimating this season in City Of Troy, who Bester revealed is fully booked ahead of the 2025 breeding season.
Justify (USA) | Standing at Coolmore
“His price point is absolutely perfect. The response to him has been very positive. At that $45,000 price for the best course in the world of his time, they have flown off the shelves, so to speak.
“I think part of it is that, if there’s one thing Fastnet Rock loves, it’s Justify, and if there’s another thing Fastnet Rock loves, it’s Galileo. He embodies that Justify-Galileo cross and all you need to add is Fastnet Rock or a Danehill line mare, and you have the magic elixir.”
“He (City Of Troy) embodies that Justify-Galileo cross and all you need to add is Fastnet Rock or a Danehill line mare, and you have the magic elixir.” - James Bester
Bester has noticed a growing appreciation for the fact that Justify’s line can deliver speed as well as staying power.
“People are recognising that, though he was a middle distance horse as a 3-year-old, he showed such speed as a 2-year-old. Like Frankel, even as a 3-year-old, the speed displayed in those middle distance triumphs was remarkable.
“So when a horse has that speed and can carry out the distance, you have to think the future is bright.”
