The progeny of Justify have shone this week in the tangerine silks of Te Akau Racing, and the good form continued with three-year-old Rule of Law (NZ) producing his maiden victory at Tauranga on Wednesday.
A winner of the US Triple Crown, Justify’s three-year-old crop includes Star of Justice who scored an impressive victory in Monday’s rescheduled Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton, and looks a key hope in the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm 1000 Guineas (1600m) for the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson stable.
Back in the North, Rule of Law continued the stallion’s good form in the Ultimate Mazda Maiden 3YO (1400m), jumping confidently away in just his second race-day start and worked forward from a wide draw (13) in a hotly-contested lead, eventually taking over for Opie Bosson.
Bosson controlled a comfortable tempo through the middle stages and when asked, Rule of Law responded with a decent kick at the top of the straight to gain a two-length break on the field. His early advantage proved too tough for closing rivals Still Bangon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) and Scottie’s Legacy (Almanzor, the gelding holding a strong closing gallop to score by a length.
“It was a really good performance and he looks to be a nice staying horse,” Walker said.
“He’ll only continue to improve as he has more experience, but I liked the way he quickened up in front to establish a break and kept up a very strong gallop.
“I like the way he relaxed as well, because he had to do it at both ends of the races, so definitely a horse with a future over ground.
“One thing I think we’ve learnt about these horses by Justify is that they seem to improve lengths with blinkers on.”
The experienced eye of Bosson also saw staying potential in the three-year-old, who was purchased by David Ellis CNZM at the 2022 Karaka Yearling Sales out of The Oaks Stud’s Book 1 draft.
“He’s a nice relaxed type, jumped well last time and did the same again. I think the further the distance, the better,” Bosson said.
“He’s a horse with a nice action and he’s a promising staying prospect.”
