After giving yeoman service to Josh Julius, Just Folk is now a stakes-winner for Gavin Bedggood after toughing it out in the Group III Lamaro's Hotel Eclipse Stakes at Caulfield to break a winning drought that extends back to the Group II Ajax Stakes at Rosehill in March 2022.
Just Folk down the outside (image Grant Courtney)
Given a positive ride by Mark Zahra, the 7-year-old son of Magnus was on tired legs as he held fellow Magnus gelding Danish Fortune by a short-half-head with the winner’s stablemate Keats (IRE) (Galileo) one and a quarter lengths back in third.
Also the winner of the Group II Moonee Valley Crystal Mile, Just Folk advances his record to seven wins, seven seconds, and two thirds from 36 starts with earnings of $983,403.
Gavin Bedggood Racing/Mailbag Bloodstock purchased Just Folk for $199,000 2023 JULY (Early) Online Sale.
“It’s great, it was an afterthought to come here today, Bedggood conceded.
“He’d pulled up so well and had a really good blood on Wednesday, just did a little bit of work on Thursday morning and with the rain predicted, we’re obviously coming into December now, the chances are going to become slim so we sort of had to take the opportunity today and it paid off.
“He’s been racing consistently all preparation, he finally got his toe into the ground today properly and he was given a good ride.
“He came to us a really well looked after horse, when you get tried horses it’s often not the case but just a change of scenery and environment, that’s sort of done the trick and he’s just bobbed up in his right race today.
“Josh (Julius) has done a great job with him, he came to us a really well looked after horse, we didn’t have to do much different with him.
“He won’t keep running on firm ground, we’ll just see how he comes through today, have a look at the forecast in the next seven to fourteen days and see how it looks but he’s going to go to a hundred and six, hundred and seven rating off that so you’re dictated to on where you can run, there’s probably not a lot of options but we’ll worry about that tomorrow.”
A long time between drinks for the old warrior (image Grant Courtney)
Bred by Leo Dwyer, Just Folk is the best of two winners from three to race out of the unraced Desert Sun (GB) mare Fast Ruby, a half-sister to Group 1 Emirates Stakes winner Tears I Cry.
Dwyer acquired Fast Rub’s dam Cassazione (Salieri) for $4000 at the 1998 Inglis July Mixed Sale.
A granddaughter of the 1990 Group 1 VRC Oaks heroine Weekend Delight (Racing Is Fun), Fast Ruby has a 2-year-old sister to Just Folk and foaled a filly from the final crop of Magnus on September 26.
