It’s often said that whatever doesn’t beat you makes you stronger, and that rings true in the case of Boomer Bloodstock purchase Scales of Justice (Not A Single Doubt) who has battled his way back from a number of setbacks to regain winning Group 1 form.
Determination in Scales of Justice prevailed, and with his patient trainer Lindsey Smith, the gelding stepped out at Caulfield on Saturday to floor a top-class field in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes.
Scales of Justice’s return to full health and top form has proved to be the perfect flagbearer for Smith’s new Victorian stable, where the 40-box yard at Warrnambool opened in May.
“It’s a great win for the owners and the horse. He’s had a lot of people help him, and we all need help, from the vets to the farriers and the team at home and the team at Warrnambool,” Smith said.
“They’ve all done a remarkable job and I’m just the fortunate person to be with him today.”
Scales of Justice drew a handy barrier and lobbed along in fifth spot to the turn before jockey Dean Yendall got serious. He surged to the front 150 metres from home and pulled clear to win by three-quarters of a length.
“Words can’t describe how I feel at the moment,” Yendall said. “He’s just a lovely horse to ride and takes everything in his stride”. “I had the superior run through the race at a good, solid tempo and when I produced him he just took off. They were closing in, but he fought them off easily so it’s onwards and upwards for the spring carnival.”
The gallant 7-year-old won the G1 Railway S. in the spring of 2016, but was subsequently turned-out due to back and feet problems and managed to return last year for a couple of runs before he was forced out of action again.
He was back in serious business when winning the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield in July, and in between times, was a just beaten for second in the Group 3 Spring Stakes at Morphettville after hitting the front a fair way from home.
“I thought his run at Adelaide wasn’t bad. I gave bad riding instructions and that’s why I was the worst jockey in the world,” Smith said. “We didn’t know what direction it would finish up [today] and it could have gone pear-shaped so he deserved this win and so did the horse.”
Scales Of Justice was offered at the 2016 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale by Millford Thoroughbreds and purchased by Boomer Bloodstock for $180,000 for clients Chris Wells and Bill Andrews.
