Another JUSTIFY Stakes-Winner from a Danehill line Mare

28 Nov 23

JUSTIFY is the best 2yo sire in North America this year, leading in every stakes category with his four (4) 2yo Group 1 winners.

Justify at Stud

The undefeated USA Racing Hero and now arguably the world’s best young sire, JUSTIFY posted yet another new 2yo stakes-winner in North America last weekend when JUST STEEL captured the US$222,505 Ed Brown Stakes Listed (6 ½ f – 1300m) at Churchill Downs.

The D. Wayne Lukas-trained JUST STEEL (2c Justify x Irish Lights, by Fastnet Rock) became the eighth (8th) individual 2yo stakes winner of the year, (4 at Gr1 level) for his amazing sire.

JUST STEEL has had a busy preparation with a win and two placings from his six previous starts but went to a new level when claiming his first Black Type victory.

The 2yo got trapped wide in the 1300m race and was forced to chase four-wide. Jockey Joel Rosario stared to urge him on half-way through the race.

Continuing to stay wide throughout, he sizzled down the straight five horses deep and gunned for the lead at the 250m point. The colt had command of the race at the 200m marker and pulled away from to win by 2½ lengths.

JUST STEEL has now returned $240,795 of his $500,000 yearling purchase with huge upside to come.

JUST STEEL (2c Justify x Irish Lights, by Fastnet Rock) hails from a thoroughbred industry renowned Australian female family which also added an additional two (2) Stakes Winners to the page this Spring with both MURAMASA and BANANA QUEEN.

Just Steel powered home winning by 2½ lengths

JUST STEEL was a Keeneland September purchase. He is the half-brother to Group 2 winner OMEI SWORD (dam of MURAMASA) and stakes-winner LIPIZZANER and has become the third stakes-winner among five winners from five foals to race out of IRISH LIGHTS a daughter of Fastnet Rock, and winner of the Group 1 MRC Thousand Guineas.

JUST STEEL’s full-brother sold at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale this year for $250,000.

JUST STEEL also became the 23rd stakes-winner for JUSTIFY (and 15 Stakes Placed) and is his third from a daughter of Fastnet Rock (by Danehill), this exact nick has produced 11 winners from 13 starters (84.6% winner to runner) and 23% SW to runners.

JUSTIFY is a son of SCAT DADDY and FASTNET ROCK is a son of DANEHILL.

JUST STEEL is a grandson of both SCAT DADDY and DANEHILL.

SCAT DADDY over DANEHILL is a powerful nick and JUST STEEL became the 26th Individual Stakes Winner bred on this cross.

Of the 23 Stakes Winners sired by JUSTIFY to date 4 are from grand-daughters of DANEHILL:

LEARNING TO FLY; LEGACIES; STAR OF JUSTICE and JUST STEEL

Whilst also from Danehill line mares there are 2 Stakes Placed horses: VERDAD and SCENTIFY.

JUSTIFY will only has a very limited number of yearlings in 2024 yearling sale.

He only covered a small book of mares in 2021 and had just 58 live foals for this 2022 foal crop. He did not return to Australia in 2023 so there will be no JUSTIFY yearlings available in the 2025 sales.

He did return in 2024 standing at Coolmore for $77,000.

This looks incredibly cheap now because in the US JUSTIFY saw his service fee go from $100,000 up to $200,000 and has now been increased again and is categorised as Private, on the back of the deeds of his dual Gr1 2yo Breeders Cup successes.

JUST F Y I became the First Breeders' Cup Winner for JUSTIFY, and he didn't wait long for his Second Breeders' Cup Winner, when

HARD TO JUSTIFY won the Juvenile Fillies Turf (1600m).

JUSTIFY also claimed the Champion 2yo Colt of Europe with CITY OF TROY

and the Champion 2yo Filly of Europe with OPERA SINGER.

What has been catalogued to date is just 9 lots at MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale, 5 lots at NZB Karaka Book 1 and 10 lots at Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. That’s 24 of those available and the balance of the best of them will be at Inglis Easter.

Therefore, their scarcity will drive prices skywards, as it should for arguably the best young stallion in the world who has performed brilliantly in Australia being crowned Champion First Season Sire and is a leading Second Season Sire.

Dynamic Syndications purchased a colt bred this way for $200,000 + GST at the Magic Millions this year.

He is by JUSTIFY from ORONTES (Redoute's Choice - Danehill).

Our Colt - JUSTIFY ex ORONTES by Redoute's Choice (Danehill)

Orontes is a three-quarter Sister to Gr1 Winning Sprinter TAKEDOWN.

Our colt is also showing his trainers plenty in early training.