Local marvel Justaskme will attempt to become the first three-time winner of the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) when he contests the $100,000 feature for the fourth time at New Plymouth on Saturday.
Justaskme won the race in both 2021 and 2023, finishing fourth in between times behind Helena Baby. The Allan Sharrock-trained gelding is one of three dual winners of the Opunake Cup since it was elevated to Listed level in 2006, alongside Longchamp (2016, 2017) and Helena Baby (2019, 2022). On Saturday he will shoot for an unprecedented treble.
Justaskme has gone winless in 11 starts since last year’s Opunake Cup success, but he has run a number of notable races including a fourth in the Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m), third in the Group 3 Metric Mile (1600m) and fifth in the Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m).
The eight-year-old has caught the eye this winter with a strong-finishing fifth in the Listed Rangitikei Cup (1600m), a close third in the Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) and a last-start fifth over 1400m at Hastings on July 6.
“He’s flying,” Sharrock said. “He’s going really, really well. Obviously the AGC Training Stakes at weight-for-age at Wanganui was the first real target race and we missed there, but the other two targets are this one and the Winter Cup.
“He’s progressed very well since his last start run and I really think he’s in great order leading into this race.”
Justaskme’s victory in last year’s Opunake Cup came under a hefty topweight of 60kg. He will carry 58kg on Saturday, 1kg less than topweight Belardo Boy, with Johnathan Parkes booked to take the ride.
“Not being the topweight makes a nice change,” Sharrock said. “But he’d only have to win again to go straight back up to the top of the handicap. That’s the way it goes.
“But he won with 60kg last time, so you’d have to say he looks quite well placed under 58kg on Saturday.”
Horse racing bookmakers rate Justaskme a $6 chance for the Opunake Cup, sharing second favouritism with Bradman. The $4.60 favourite is Spencer, who has won all of his three starts in this campaign and will carry 53kg.
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