Racing: Just An Excuse primed for a hat-trick

Raglan-based trainer Robert Mitchell did a double take when he uncovered free-for-all pacing superstar Just An Excuse.

After an eight-week break Just An Excuse had thrived and was carrying plenty of condition.

"I'm not a big fan of weighing my horses but Just An Excuse weighed in at about 476 kilograms during the Inter Dominion Carnival and I thought he handled the four races during the two week carnival very well," said Mitchell.

"I took one look at him last Sunday and that's the best he has ever looked in his career as he generally struggles to hold his bodyweight during a racing campaign.

"His weight at the moment is around 510 kilograms and that's a lot of weight for an athlete like him.

"I'm really excited with how he is right now and I'd like to train him down and keep his body weight right up near that 510 mark throughout next season.

"It won't take me long to train this horse down to his peak fitness as the beach training will bring him up very quickly to his required fitness levels.

"Once I've trained him down to a satisfactory time on Raglan beach I'll then take him up to Waiuku beach for a few training runs with some of the racehorses Michelle Wallis has in training.

"I have a well-established programme I follow with this horse leading into the New Zealand Cup in Christchurch in November.

"I'd like to give him two races at Alexandra Park next season before I take him to Christchurch and he'll then race in the Ashburton Flying Stakes.

"We'll then chase that hat-trick of wins in the New Zealand Cup at Addington Raceway in November.

"Just An Excuse hits his peak fitness levels very quickly every campaign so I don't have to overdo things with him to get him ready for the New Zealand Cup.

Mitchell is warm in his praise of Australasia's premier free-for-all pacer Elsu but he is not conceding defeat in the 2005 New Zealand Cup.

"It'll be mouth-watering stuff for everyone in the harness racing industry if Just An Excuse and Elsu clash in the 2005 [NZ] Cup.

"My horse has won the race in the last two years and he has beaten Elsu on both occasions. Elsu has been in stunning form this year winning the Auckland and Hunter Cups and Inter Dominion Pacing Final."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY