Black Type Win On Offer For Just A Girl In Travel Associates Classic

Chris Waller would love to see Just A Girl record a maiden win at black type level in the 2014 Travel Associates Classic at Doomben on Saturday, but he admits that the mare will need to improve to win the Listed event.

Chris Munce has been booked to ride Just A Girl in the 2014 Travel Associates Classic. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Chris Munce has been booked to ride Just A Girl in the 2014 Travel Associates Classic. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Just A Girl started her summer preparation with a professional win in the TAB Betting Season Handicap (1100m) at Warwick Farm on October 15 and looked to have every chance when stepped up in grade for the CFEMEU Mining & Energy Division Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on November 1, but tired in the final stages to finish fifth.

Waller said that Just A Girl will need to produce a better performance to take out the Travel Associates Classic this weekend, but said that he is happy to give the five-year-old the opportunity in what looks like a very open race.

“She is a hard horse to place,” Waller said.

“We would love to get some black type for the owners and that is the reason she is going up there.

“She is going to have to improve to get it, but we are giving her an opportunity to say the least.”

Leading Queensland jockey Chris Munce has been booked to ride Just A Girl in the Travel Associates Classic and will be having his first race ride for the Waller stable this season.

Waller said that he is happy to have booked a jockey with the talent of Munce to ride Just A Girl and he is confident that the champion hoops local knowledge should be able to give the mare a slight edge in the Travel Associates Classic.

“She has drawn a bit awkwardly, but she has a good jockey on board in Chris Munce,” Waller said.

“It is good to have local jockeys aboard; they know what they can get away with and what they can’t.

“We will trust his judgment.”

Just A Girl made her racing debut under the care of Scott Aspery in 2012 and she recorded four wins for her original trainer before she was transferred to the Waller stable at the end of 2013.

Brook Road is currently a clear favourite in the Travel Associates Classic betting market with Ladbrokes Australia and is available at a quote of $3, while Just A Girl is priced at Travel Associates Classic odds of $6.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.