Just Feelin’ Lucky takes out the Gunsynd Classic
Coolmore’s former shuttler Justify (Scat Daddy) sired his 48th individual and 11th southern hemisphere stakes winner on Saturday when Just Feelin’ Lucky (3 f ex Phylicia by Pierro) took out the Gunsynd Classic (Gr 3, 1600m) at Eagle Farm.
Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, the three-year-old – who was one of only two fillies in the field – led all the way to defeat Pisces (Frosted) by 1.3 lengths, with Apuntar (The Mission) a further 2.7 lengths behind in third.
The Group-race success adds residual value to the filly – whose large ownership group includes James Bester – and Freedman revealed her success was the result of a plan well executed, down to the front running tactics.
“It [leading] might be the place to be today, I suppose we’ll wait and see, but she’s that style of horse, you know, those Justifys, I think they love just sort of free-rolling up in front,” he said.
“I had a good chat to Tommy before the race, and that was sort of the idea, if we could dictate the race from the front, and it panned out perfectly. Obviously, she’s come through the lower-grade races, so to get Group 3 on the record today is just fabulous.
“They’re a good bunch of owners, and after she won at Canterbury the other day, I said, well, we might as well go and have a shot at the stumps.
“It’s getting to the back end of the season and she’ll turn four pretty soon. I thought, well, let’s go and have a crack at some black type, so she’s quite a valuable filly now.”
Bred by Mrs C B Remond, Just Feelin’ Lucky was purchased by James Bester Bloodstock for $80,000 from Ashleigh Thoroughbreds’ draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is the second foal and first stakes winner out of placed Pierro (Lonhro) mare Phylicia, who herself is out of three-time Listed-level winner Crevette (Danehill), making her a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Cosmic Endeavour (Northern Meteor).