‘He’s A Very Fast Horse’: Justify Gelding Justifying Impresses On HK Debut

[Wandering Eyes]

Justifying (Aus) (Justify) became his dual-hemisphere stallion's third Hong Kong winner with a dazzling debut display down the 1000-meter straight course in Sunday's opening race at Sha Tin Racecourse.

An A$100,000 graduate of the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, the bay was led out unsold for the same amount at that year's Inglis Ready2Race [Breeze-Up] Sale and was turned over to trainer Vincent Nolan for his initial racetrack prep. The late October foal put his talents on full display when landing a soft-ground jumpout by five lengths at Benalla north and east of Melbourne last April and soon was bound for the riches of Hong Kong, where he joined the yard of noted trainer Caspar Fownes.

Sent up to the Hong Kong Jockey Club's satellite training facility on the Chinese mainland at Conghua in early 2025, Justifying led throughout to win an 800-meter turf trial in January (video), added another a few weeks later over the metric five furlongs (video) and was the $2.60 favorite (8-5) for his unveiling on Sunday.

Drawn four, Justifying was quickly into stride for Luke Ferraris, who was able to cross down onto the stands'-side rail after a couple of hundred meters. Always going strongly up front, he quickened up beautifully with about 300 meters to travel and crossed the wire a 3 3/4-length winner (video). The final time was :55.67, nearly a full second inside of the standard time for Class 4 over the distance.

“He's a very fast horse and he's got a long way to go because he's still quite immature,” Fownes told the HKJC's Leo Schlink. “I gave him two trials and normally I'd give them a few more but he looked to be ready to come to the races. He's a pretty straightforward horse, he showed a lot of speed and I think he's quite exciting.”

Justifying is out of a full-sister to multiple Australian sprint group winner and Group 1-placed Montana Flyer (Aus) (Flying Spur {Aus}), and Justify's two other local winners also descend from Danehill-line dams, namely by Fastnet Rock (Aus) and Redoute's Choice (Aus).

Hong Kong Jockey Club handicappers gave Justifying a hefty 11 pounds for the victory, which means he will face Class 3 gallopers next time off a mark of 63.

 

Smashed 'em!

Justify gelding Justifying wins comfortably on debut at Sha Tin with @LukeFerraris and Caspar Fownes… #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/Osvhnp29u8

— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 2, 2025

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