Just As Well
The speedy 2yo colt Just Africa shed his maiden in convincing style at his second start at the Vaal on Thursday to enjoy the honour of being the first winner for his KZN-based sire, Just As Well.
The Paul Peter-trained flyer covered the 1000m on the turf in 58,01 secs and won going away by four lengths. This was a smart step-up on his runner-up berth on debut at end February.
Bred by Bruce Le Roux, who stands Just As Well at Spring Valley Stud, Just Africa is not a big fellow, but he is very racy and could be just as effective up to 1200m. He is out of the Stratum mare Hello Africa, who won once over 1000m from just three starts.
Interesting, as his sire won over ground, but that is just where Just As Well stands out as being a seriously versatile prospect.
He already has a stakes placed runner in Just As I Said (out of the Alami mare I Said Hey) who ran third in the Listed Storm Bird Stakes and has five places from his five starts.
“Just As Well is built like a speed horse and won from 1000m to 2400m. He throws them with big backsides and wide backs.They are pretty quick but with the blood suggesting they will stay on – that makes me very positive and excited,” says Spring Valley’s Bruce Le Roux.
Just Africa, from a first crop of just 22 registered foals, was an economical R30 000 purchase at the 2014 Suncoast KZN Yearling Sale. He thus also qualifies as a possible runner in the KZN Yearling Sale Milllion to be run over 1300m at Greyville on July day.
Just As Well (USA), by sire-of-sires A.P. Indy, is out of the well performed No Matter What by Nureyev.
The mare achieved 3 wins over 1800m in France and the USA, including the Gr1 Del Mar Oaks and the Listed Prix des Lilas.
She ran off TFR of 110 and she has also produced the seven-time winner (TFR 120) Rainbow View and 5 time winner Winter View, both Graded Stakes winners. No Matter What is half-sister to sire E Dubai, the sire of Gr 1 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint winner Desert Code (TFR 120), and Vronski (by Danzig) who is also standing at stud in the USA.
Just As Well raced over 4 seasons, and travelled extensively in the USA, Japan and Canada. He had 4 wins, 8 seconds and 3 thirds, and won $859,582 in stakes.
His victories included the Gr 1 Northern Dancer Breeders Cup over 2400m and the Gr 3 Arlington Handicap over 2000m. He placed second in the Gr 3 Arlington Handicap over 2000m, and Gr 2 Dixie Stakes over 1800m, the Gr 1 Arlington Million 2000m, and in the Gr 1 Gulfstream Park Breeders Cup Handicap over 1800m.
Bruce Le Roux says that his phone has been ringing off the hook with enquiries about Just As Well.
“People have now realised that what they thought would possibly be a pure stamina stallion is turning into a horse who gets them fast.That provides all kinds of exciting prospects. He didn’t get many mares in his first season but the interest has picked up dramatically and things are looking up.”
Just As Well has seven yearlings on offer in next week’s The Maslow National Yearling Sale – check out lots: #23, # 156, #225, #288, #329, #330 and #367
He stands for a fee of R10 000.
