Racing: Just Got Home won't get shot at the Northern

Quality jumper Just Got Home will miss the Great Northern Hurdles. Photo / Trish Dunell

Another crack at the Great Northern Hurdles has already been ruled out for the well-performed Just Got Home.

"He ran in it two years ago and he just can't get those distances on heavy tracks," said Megan Liefting, wife of trainer Rudy.

"We're very pleased with him and he will have a run on the flat at Te Aroha on Sunday and then he'll go down to Hastings for the Hawke's Bay Hurdles."

The winner of five flat races and four over the smaller fences, Just Got Home may also be in line for a return to Trentham next month.

"He has already won a Wellington Hurdles so we know he handles that course and another option later on is a steeplechase start, he's got his ticket," Liefting said of the quality jumper.

Just Got Home has had two outings over fences this campaign and he indicated he was close to top form with a last-start third in the K. S. Browne Hurdle at Ellerslie.

"He made up a lot of ground from the back," Liefting said.

"He has taken a little bit longer to come up this year and Richard [Cully] said he just ran out of puff in the last 100 metres."

Meanwhile, stablemate Danza Lad will make his first hurdle appearance at the Te Aroha meeting.

While the dual group three winner of the Merial Ancare Metric Mile and the Thompson Handicap has been extensively schooled, Liefting sounded words of caution to punters.

"He's had a hurdle trial every year for the past four years, but he can be a bit in and out," she said.

"He was very disappointing the other day and decided he wasn't going to have anything to do with it."

He does have the jumping ability, but it's a case of whether he wants to work with us on the day."

Danza Lad, who tailed the field home in the Foxton Cup, will be ridden by Aaron Kuru.

- NZ Racing Desk