Justice Out to Prove Carnival Credentials

Exciting Townsville four-year-old Tambo’s Justice will have a new jockey as he begins a campaign aimed at winter riches at Cluden Park on Tuesday.

The Justify gelding, unbeaten in three starts, will make his much anticipated return to racing as a major fancy in the Great Northern Brewing Co BM60 Hcp (1200m).

But in a stunning change, leading Rockhampton rider Ashley Butler will take over as the galloper’s regular rider from Ryan Wiggins, who has been aboard in all of his starts but is committed to the Stephen Massingham stable.

Premier trainer Georgie Holt and her husband, jockey Aidan Holt, have a big opinion of Tambo’s Justice but want to see the big frontrunner prove himself in stiffer class before mapping out a winter plan.

“We’ve really taken our time with him and made sure everything has been spot on in getting him back on track,” Holt said.

“I really want to see him come back as good as he was going before he spelled.

“We don’t have any specific targets for him at the moment. I’d just like to see him come back in good form first.

“We think he wants more ground, and there are some nice races over the winter carnival over a trip.

“But it’ll be good to get a guide on him first before we map anything out.”

Tambo’s Justice made an instant impact after transferring to Holt from Tony Gollan in Brisbane as an unraced four-year-old in the later half of last year. 

He cruised to a brilliant five-length maiden win over 1300m at Cluden in November, and quickly followed with two more wins over 1400m before spelling in late December.

Holt said Butler, who is a close friend of the family, jumped at the chance to ride the gelding and is making a special trip to Townsville for Tuesday’s race.

“We tried to book Ryan (Wiggins), but unfortunately he’s unable to ride him because of his other commitments and we understand that,” Holt said.

“The horse has got Aidan’s weight but he just feels he doesn’t go for him so we’ve gone for Ashley (Butler).

“Ash gets them out of the barriers and he’s a horse that really needs to be stirred up early to get rolling.

“I’m not too worried about Barrier 11. I don’t think that’s a bad thing - he can get the room to get going early.

“He’s a notoriously poor trialler but I was a bit stunned when he got beaten 20 lengths in a jump out a few weeks back, although there were some pretty fast sprinters in it.

“He’s since won a trial quite nicely and he’s really come on from that and I think he’ll be hard to beat even at the 1200m.

“You have to remember he’s a four-year-old and only had three starts so he’s still learning what it’s all about and we’re still getting to the bottom of what makes him tick.”

Tambo’s Justice has been a bright light for Holt who otherwise has had a quiet season with just 13 wins with only three months left in the current season.

The stable claimed last year’s Townsville trainers’ title with 31 wins, but Holt said the operation had been hampered this year by the prolonged wet and then a virus which set back a number of their team.

Holt will also saddle up John Joseph in the Ladbrokes BM70 Hcp (1400m) and good mare Sweet Kisses in the Ladbrokes 3/4YO QTIS Hcp (1300m).