Handy pacer Helluva provided a little glimmer of joy in a tough week for John Justice when he won the opening event at Melton on Saturday night.
John’s mother and respected harness racing figure Josie Justice passed away on Tuesday after a short battle with cancer, and the Toolern Vale horseman spoke about her following the gelding’s victory in the DNR Logistics Pace.
“It’s been a bit of a tough week, but Mum’s in a better place now and she’s not in any pain,” John said.
“She’s up there looking down and probably helping me a bit in the last couple of days.
“Right up to the very end she was still organising the stable, making sure there was plenty of oats, the harness was clean and (checking) how they’ve been track working. It was just her whole life.
“She had a good life so we can’t complain. She came on the 31st of May and left on the 31st of May.”
Josie died on her 91st birthday, closing a chapter on a life of devotion to the sport and her family, who are poised to carry on her legacy for generations.
She was at the forefront of many people’s minds on Saturday night, with a minute’s silence at Tabcorp Park before the running of the fifth event on the card.
Meanwhile, there was a happy reunion between Mark Pitt and Sundons Courage.
Pitt had teamed up with Chris Angove’s squaregaiter just once in his 133-start career before getting the call-up for the Group 3 Lenin Trotters Free For All and produced a brilliant pegs-hugging drive to guide the veteran nine-year-old to victory.
After starting from barrier eight, Sundons Courage ended up four back along the inside when Chris Lang sent Ultimate Stride to the lead down the back straight the first time. Locked up with seemingly nowhere to go, Pitt and his charge were able to creep up to a spot behind the leader in the final lap thanks to Travel Bug (Jason McNaulty/Anthony Butt) and Nephew Of Sonoko (Ross Graham/James Herbertson) both moving away from the inside. And when daylight came in the straight, Sundons Courage showed his customary speed and charged clear to win by more than five metres.
Brandlo Prince (Chris Svanosio) was second with Wobelee (Alison Alford/Chris Alford) third.
“Not many people wanted to be on the fence in that race, but I did!,” Pitt said.
“He’s good and fast when he’s on song and that’s how he was tonight.”
Career victory 25 took Sundons Courage’s earnings up over $400,000, with his headline victory being the Group 1 Vicbred Super Series 2YO Trotting Colts and Geldings Final in 2015.
Tim O’Connor
