Since bursting onto the Australian scene with a hat-trick of impressive wins, Just Fine has been in and out of form.
However, co-trainer Adrian Bott is getting the sense that the lightly raced eight-year-old is ready to turn back the clock this autumn.
Along with Hoo Ya Mal and last year’s Brisbane Cup winner Campaldino, Just Fine will represent Tulloch Lodge in Saturday’s Group 3 Parramatta Cup (1900m) at Rosehill and Bott has cautioned punters not to underestimate him.
“I feel he’s back to where we had him originally,” Bott said.
“His last couple of trials have been encouraging. We’re pleased with him at home and in his work.
“Maybe out of our three, he seems the most forward, and the most suited by the race. Hopefully he can show that on his return.”
Just Fine has been off the scene since trailing the field home in the Mornington Cup (2400m) last April, while Hoo Ya Mal is also resuming from an extended break.
Runner-up in the 2022 English Derby, Hoo Ya Mal’s best Australian performance was a Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) placing a year later, although Bott hasn’t given up on the gelding finally delivering on some of that promise.
“The talent is there, but he’s a horse that does need a lot to go his way in the run,” he said.
“I want to see something from him first, but he’s got the potential to be very competitive in these types of races.”
Former Kiwi Campaldino will be first-up since capping a breakout campaign with a Brisbane Cup (3200m) triumph in June.
He was put back in work for the spring but didn’t come up, so connections opted to give him a longer break and concentrate on the autumn with the Sydney Cup (3200m) his aim.
“He showed enough potential for us to pursue him as a tried prospect out of New Zealand, and he went from strength to strength last campaign when he went through his grades nicely and finished up with a very good win in the Brisbane Cup,” Bott said.
“We might have to be a bit more negative from that draw, which will make the task more difficult for him, but he’s got a nice campaign ahead.”
Campaldino, who will jump from the outside gate in the field of 14, was the shortest of the Tulloch Lodge trio with bookmakers on Thursday at $7.50, ahead of Just Fine ($9.50) and Hoo Ya Mal ($16).
