Memsie Victory Was Justice

Scales of Justice is in career best form, winning Saturday’s Group One Memsie Stakes (Racing Photos)

 

They say it’s about the journey, not the destination, but when Scales of Justice duly saluted in Saturday’s Group One Memsie Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield, the victory was cheered from Perth to California.

It certainly has been some journey for the 7YO, Scales of Justice, who notched up his 11th win in the Memsie from 26 starts, along with 12 placings … just three times off the scoreboard. Overall, connections have banked $2,162,850 in prizemoney.

Among those wins was another Group One in Perth’s Railway Stakes, plus an unlucky second in the Group One Kingston Town. As one writer aptly put it: “there’s no quit in Scales of Justice”.

But despite all the wins and all the prizemoney, it’s been far from smooth sailing for Scales of Justice who has – had – been plagued by shin soreness, feet issues, further shin soreness, lesions on the spine …

“He’s had more than his share of problems which really makes Saturday’s win even more special,” enthused Boomer Bloodstock’s Craig Rounsefell, who purchased Scales of Justice, with trainer Lindsey Smith, for $180,000 from the Millford Thoroughbreds draft at the 2014 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.

“I could go on for ages about all the things that were right about him during sale inspections, but the main thing was his overall presence … Lindsay has mentioned several times about his beautiful eye. Just a very intelligent horse from the get go.

“Scales of Justice wasn’t like a lot of the Not A Single Doubts and seemed to throw more to the dam’s side.”

(Bred by Gerard and Kathy Hammond, Scales of Justice is one of four winners – from four to race – for the Umatilla mare, Beymatilla, and a half brother to Listed Warrnambool Cup runnerup, Cruyfforme. Another close relation is the Flemington Group winning sprinter, King Hoaks).

“Lindsey and I thought he’d make a lot more money but he did look like he would take time and we went hard to get him in the ring. Chris Wells is the majority shareholder and a long-time client of Lindsey and he was there at the sale with us too.

“The other owner is Bill Andrews who has been a great supporter of Boomer Bloodstock over the years, but this was his first horse with Lindsey – a terrific group of people.”

Son-in-law of the late and great US trainer, Mike Mitchell, Rounsefell is the North American representative for auction house, Inglis, and has spent over two decades in the northern hemisphere, with purchases including 3-time Group One winner Obviously (Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint). Rounsefell established Boomer Bloodstock in December 2008.

“I’ve been fortunate to be involved with some very good horses, but there is something truly special about Scales of Justice and since he has shifted across to Lindsey’s new stables at Warrnambool, it appears like they’ve gotten to the bottom of his problems,” Rounsefell adds. “It’s onwards and upwards for the spring.”

Meanwhile, Perth based owner, Chris Wells, flew across for the Memsie and can probably travel ‘cloud nine’ on his way home.

“It’s a great feeling to win another top race with the horse,” Wells explains. “I’ve owned horses for around 35 years and usually buy into half a dozen youngsters every year. You would have been hard pressed to miss Scales of Justice at the sales – great walk, terrific attitude.

“Fortunately, what we saw at the sales complex he’s put into play on the racetrack. This is my first Group One winner and, all things being equal, he’ll next run in the ($750,000 Group One) Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington in two weeks.

“I’ll be definitely making the trip back for that!”

The Power of Passion

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