Just A Way
Just A Way | |
---|---|
Dubai Duty Free (2014) Yasuda Kinen (2014) | |
Honours | |
JRA Award for Best Older Male Horse (2014) World's Best Racehorse (2014) |
Just A Way (Japanese ジャスタウェイ, foaled 8 March 2009) is a Japanese
Background
Just A Way is a bay horse with a white
In July 2010, the
Racing career
2011: two-year-old season
Just A Way made a successful debut on 23 July 2011 when he won a
2012: three-year-old season
In February 2012, Just A Way finished fourth in the Grade 3 Kisaragi Sho and then recorded his first important success when winning the Grade 3 Arlington Cup over one mile at
2013: four-year-old season
Just A Way was beaten in his first five races, competing in Grade 2 and Grade 3 races. He finished third in the Nikkan Sports Sho and second in the Epsom Cup, Sekiya Kinen and Mainichi Okan. On 27 October, Just A Way started at odds of 14.5/1 for the Grade 1 Tenno Sho over ten furlongs at Tokyo. The Japanese Horse of the Year Gentildonna started favourite for the race ahead of Tokei Halo and Eishin Flash who had won the race in the previous year. Ridden by Yuichi Fukunaga, Just A Way was not among the early leaders but began to make progress with a quarter of a mile left to run. He took the lead a furlong from the finish and drew clear in the closing stages to win by four lengths from Gentildonna in "impressive" style.[7] After the race Fukunaga said: "In his previous race I felt he was getting stronger, so I expected his success today."[8]
2014: five-year-old season
Just A Way began his fourth season in the Nakayama Kinen on 3 March and won by three and a half lengths from Archimedes. He was then sent to Dubai where he started 3/1 favourite for the
On his return to Japan, Just A Way was moved back in distance for the Yasuda Kinen over 1600 metres at Tokyo on 8 June. Despite doubts about his ability to cope with the soft turf he was made 7/10 favourite against sixteen opponents, with Yoshitomi Shibata taking over from the suspended Fukunaga. He looked likely to be beaten in the straight as the 147/1 outsider Grand Prix Boss established a clear lead, but produced a strong finish to take the lead in the last stride and win by a nose.[11]
In autumn, Just A Way was one of three Japanese horses, the others being Gold Ship and Harp Star, sent to Europe to contest the 93rd running of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp Racecourse. Racing over a distance of 2400 metres for the first time for more than two and a half years, he started the 8/1 fifth choice in the betting behind Taghrooda, Avenir Certain, Ectot and Harp Star. He raced in mid-division before making some progress in the straight but never looked likely to win and finished eighth of the twenty runners, five lengths behind the winner Treve. On his return to Japan, Just A Way continued to compete over longer distances and started third favourite behind Gentildonna and Harp Star for the Japan Cup on 30 October. He finished second of the eighteen runners, four lengths behind the winner Epiphaneia. On his final racecourse appearance, Just A Way was stepped up in distance again for the Arima Kinen over 2500 metres on 28 December and started third favourite behind Gold Ship and Epiphaneia. After being held up at the back of the field by Fukunaga he made progress on the outside in the straight but was unable to reach the leaders and finished fourth behind Gentildonna, To The World and Gold Ship.
Assessment and awards
In the April edition of the World's Best Racehorse Rankings Just A Way was placed first, five pounds ahead of Game On Dude. His rating of 130 was the highest achieved so early in the year since Curlin in 2008.[12]
In the polling for the 2014 JRA Award Just A Way was elected Best Older Male Horse, taking 242 of the 285 votes beating Epiphaneia (31 votes) and Gold Ship (11 votes). He also finished runner-up to Gentildonna in the Japanese Horse of the Year poll and third to Snow Dragon in voting for the JRA Award for Best Sprinter or Miler.[13]
When the 2014 World's Best Racehorse Rankings were published in January 2015, Just A Way was rated the best horse to race anywhere in the world in 2014, one pound ahead of Epiphaneia and two ahead of Able Friend, Australia, Kingman, The Grey Gatsby and Variety Club.[14]
Pedigree
Sire Heart's Cry (JPN) 2001 |
Sunday Silence (USA) 1986 |
Halo | Hail to Reason
|
---|---|---|---|
Cosmah | |||
Wishing Well | Understanding | ||
Mountain Flower | |||
Irish Dance (JPN) 1990 |
Tony Bin | Kampala | |
Severn Bridge | |||
Buper Dance | Lyphard | ||
My Bupers | |||
Dam Sibyl (JPN) 1999 |
Wild Again (USA) 1980 |
Icecapade | Nearctic |
Shenanigans | |||
Bushel-n-Peck | Khaled | ||
Dama | |||
Charon (USA) 1987 |
Mo Exception | Hard Work | |
With Exception | |||
Double Wiggle | Sir Wiggle | ||
Blue Double (Family: 2-n)[3] |
See also
References
- ^ a b "Just A Way pedigree". Equineline. 2014-03-07. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
- ^ "Heart's Cry Stud Record". Racing Post. 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
- ^ a b "Alexander Mare – Family 2-n". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
- ^ "JRHA Select Sale". Racing Post. July 2010. Archived from the original on 2014-04-13. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
- ^ "Tokyo Sports Hai Nisen Stakes result". Racing Post. 19 November 2011. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
- ^ "Arlington Cup result". Racing Post. 25 February 2012. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
- ^ "Tenno Sho result". Racing Post. 27 October 2013. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
- ^ Tom Kerr (27 October 2013). "Japan Gentildonna second as Just A Way springs surprise". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
- ^ "Dubai Duty Free result". Racing Post. 29 March 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
- ^ "Just A Way ran out a brilliant winner of the Dubai Duty Free". Sky Sports. 29 March 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
- ^ James Burn (8 June 2014). "Japan World's best Just A Way stars again but only just". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 9 September 2014. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
- ^ Blood-Horse Staff (11 April 2014). "Just a Way Ranked World's Best Racehorse". BloodHorse. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
- ^ "2015.01.07 Winners of the 2014 JRA Awards announced – News – Horse Racing in Japan". japanracing.jp. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- ^ "The 2014 World Thoroughbred Rankings". International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities. Retrieved 2015-01-21.