Local marvel Justaskme (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) will attempt to become the first three-time winner of the Listed Sinclair Electrical & Refrigeration 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 (NZ) (Ghibellines). 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 (NZ) (Tavistock) (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 Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m), third in the Gr.3 Metric Mile (1600m) and fifth in the Gr.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.”
The TAB rates Justaskme a $6 chance for the Opunake Cup, sharing second favouritism with Bradman (NZ) (Pins). The $4.60 favourite is Spencer (NZ) (Derryn), who has won all of his three starts in this campaign and will carry 53kg.
Justaskme headlines a 10-strong team at New Plymouth on Saturday for Sharrock, who also has a high opinion of his pair of three-year-olds that will line up in the Delaval Coastal Agri (1400m).
“There won’t be much between them,” Sharrock said. “Indian Gold won very well on debut, and then he came from last to finish fourth in his second-up run. That was a big effort on a day where up and in was the place to be. I really like the horse.
“Tisse has shown a lot of ability as well and I expect the application of blinkers to make a hell of a difference. I’m very happy with both of those horses.
“The three-year-olds in the special conditions 1800m (Smartroad and Explosive Impact) should be very competitive too. Later in the day we’ve got Fleming, who disappointed me last time, but he probably races better at home and the blinkers go on.
“Librarsi produced a typical second-up run last time. With only 50.5kg on her back on Saturday, she should be thereabouts.”
