Just As Well Relative Gets Gr 3 Win At Ascot

Just As Well Relative Gets Gr 3 Win At Ascot

A close relative of Gr 1 winning sire Just As Well, Secret Number by Raven’s Pass won the Gr 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot on 5 October over 2400m, storming to victory by two and half lengths from Royal Empire (Zeofilio) and Gatewood (Galileo). The running was on turf in good to soft going.

A 2010 foal, Secret Number is out of an Alleged/Seattle Slew/Lyphard mare and has also won the Al Bastakiya (Listed) in the UAE, and placed third in the Great Voltigeur Stakes (Gr 2) and UAE Derby (Gr 2) this year. In all of his finishes he has never been further than one and half lengths off. The Darley bred three-year-old is trained by Saeed bin Suroor, a half-brother to the Group 1 stars Librettist (by Danzig) and Dubai Destination (by Kingmambo).

Sire Raven’s Pass, by Elusive Quality is out of a mare (Ascutney) who is a full-sister to the second dam of Just As Well, Words Of War.

Just As Well’s first crop are now impressive yearlings, out of well-bred mares. Owned by Roski and Burwell Stud, Just As Well stands at Spring Valley Stud in Mooi River. By A.P. Indy out of Gr 1 winning mare No Matter What by Nureyev, Just As Well is a three-quarter brother to Judpot standing at Varsfontein in the Cape.

Pictured left: Just As Well yearling colt, aptly named Unbelievable, is a highly impressive individual with an outstanding pedigree – he is out of a Fastnet Rock mare Rocky Beach. Image: Candiese Marnewick

Just As Well’s dam, No Matter What, has been no slouch on the track or the breeding shed. She achieved 3 wins over 1800m in France and the USA including the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks, and the Listed Prix des Lilas. She earned herself a Time Form Rating of 110 and to date she has produced (besides Just As Well) 7 time winner (TFR 120) Rainbow View and 5 time winner Winter View, both Graded Stakes winners respectively. No Matter What also happens to be a half-sister to sire E Dubai, the sire of Grade 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 four seasons, and travelled extensively to race in the USA, Japan and Canada. He had 4 wins, 8 seconds and 3 thirds, and amassed $859,582 in stakes won. There is a story behind Just As Well and his success at the track.

Part owner of Just As Well, Greg Royden-Turner points out: “Just As Well started his racing career early, just as any other horse would. He injured himself at 3 and his trainer made an unconventional decision and sent him to a farm for two years where he ran in the mountains with the other horses. It clearly did him the world of good – when they sent him back into training at age 6, he began winning his Group races!”

Pictured right: Just As Well yearling named Just A Jet, is a beautiful filly out of A Thousand Jets by Jet Master. Image: Juli Santini

His races he won 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.

He stands at 15.3 hands, and has a beautiful head which bears a strong resemblance to his famous sire, sizable hindquarters and top-line with athletic conformation combined with a good length of rein. What really stands out is his superb temperament.

Just As Well stands this season for R10 000 live foal. Contact Bruce Le Roux on 082 493 5773 for more information.