By Craig Kerry
When Kerry Parker was handed an unraced four-year-old mare purchased for just $1250 online, the Kembla Grange trainer was understandably looking out for what was wrong with it.
Twenty-one starts later, Justela will chase a hat-trick of Saturday wins in town with $244,550 already in the bank.
Justela, right, winning in the wet at Rosehill on December 7.Credit: Getty Images
And Parker can see no reason why the now six-year-old can’t score her biggest victory yet on Saturday at Randwick.
She was bought on an Inglis online sale in September 2022 under the description “of a fantastic type. She looks a real athlete, she has been broken in and has two preparations where she showed promise”.
Parker, though, was wary of the budget buy.
“You don’t know what you get, but it was funny the first time I took her to the barriers, I thought this might be why they sold her. You’re waiting for a reason,” Parker said.
Kembla Grange trainer Kerry Parker.Credit: Getty Images
“She was always a little quirky, a little playful as a younger mare, but nothing dramatic, and she’s still the same now.
“She’ll be cantering and have a little buck and a play here and there, but that’s when you know she’s good. There’s no malice in it, but maybe as a younger horse that was a bit scary.
“But she’s been sound all the way through and a good story for the owners. They are just local guys having a lot of fun with her.”
Two of her six wins, and $110,000 in stakes, have come at her most recent starts, both in Midway grade, on a lightning-fast Kembla track then on a Heavy 8 at Rosehill. On Saturday, she steps up to normal benchmark company, where she was a $10 Sportsbet shot.
“She’s coming out of that Midway grade, and you’ve got to take on all comers,” Parker said.
“It’s a good step for her, and she’s proven she’s worth a shot at it, that’s for sure. The mare is going great guns. You are going for three in a row, but that’s all part and parcel of it.
“I think she’ll hold her own. She’s racing well, and I’m really pleased well.”
Parker believed Justela “put the writing on the wall last prep”.
“I think she had a good prep and things have probably gone right for her this time,” he said.
“She’s had some really good rides from Jay [Ford], but good barriers as well. That’s a big help for a mare like her.
“And I think she’s built up into a racehorse now. When we got her, she was an unraced four-year-old, so there was a little bit of tweaking going on.
“Last preparation I thought she was really starting to put it together. She’s definitely enjoying her racing and I think that’s showing on the track.”
Meanwhile, Will Freedman will chase a special win with Magnatear in the Midway Handicap, the third race on the program.
Magnatear was trained and part-owned by close friend Sam Kavanagh, who died at age 38 on December 14 after a battle with cancer.
Magnatear was the last nominated runner for Kavanagh but connections did not accept for last week’s Randwick program.
