Racing: Justa Tad just too good again

It was hardly surprising to see New Zealand's top filly, Justa Tad, bounce back to winning form in emphatic style in the Eulogy Stakes at Awapuni on Saturday.

It confirmed her as the favourite to be crowned queen of the fillies later in the season, such was the emphatic nature of her victory over a couple of very useful types in La Sizeranne and Eloa in the $50,000 group three race for three-year-old fillies.

Justa Tad, who was a hot favourite at $1.60 to win, had earlier won the Lowland Stakes at Hastings and the One Thousand Guineas at Riccarton. On each occasion La Sizeranne was the runner-up.

Justa Tad subsequently finished fifth in the group one $200,000 Levin Classic (1600m) at Otaki but was decidedly unlucky after slipping at the start and being checked in the home straight.

Auckland owner and trainer Rudy Liefting has fielded a series of offers for his Istidaad filly, but his response after Justa Tad's victory yesterday was "what will be, will be".

"If [his wife] Megan and myself had any concerns regarding a sale and its ramifications, we would not have had the horse racing here today," Liefting said.

"She showed today she is as good as any other filly in the country. On one hand we would be sorry to lose her [should a sale eventuate], but we have to be realistic as to what the money can do for you."

Liefting revealed the latest offer, made just last week, was "more than a million but under a million and a half".

Justa Tad settled back in the running with La Sizeranne and Eloa on her quarters.

The race was run at a good clip but the front runners had no answer once Justa Tad swooped about 300m from the finish.

Rider Vinny Colgan was in awe of Justa Tad's ability to sprint.

"There is so little time in her changing gear," Colgan said. "She is so explosive. In a matter of two or three strides she's in full flight."

Liefting said his main goal for Justa Tad was the group one $300,000 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on January 22.

"She is a lightly framed filly and we have to have her races spaced," he said. "So it will probably be the group one Royal Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on January 2 next for her before tackling the Oaks."

The race was marred by the withdrawal of both Prickle and Class Act at the start. Prickle reared over backwards in the starting stalls and then became entangled in the framework. Class Act, in the next barrier, reacted and hit her head, which resulted in bleeding from both nostrils.

- NZPA