Just Ben famous for ‘just about’ winning
Horse has his 10th second placing in 34 career starts
We’ll win a race with him soon, don’t worry about that. His turn will come over summer.
Ahardcase racehorse is gaining a cult following for “just about” winning. Just Ben, a 5-year-old gelding from Awapuni, has developed a frustrating knack for running second.
Sometimes he’s looked home-andhosed halfway down the straight, like last week at the Levin Racing Club’s meeting at O¯ taki, when he cruised to the lead on the home turn — only to be dive-bombed by another horse in the shadows of the post.
Raceday commentator Tony Lee’s voice went up a notch when Just Ben and jockey Jonathan Riddell hit the lead.
“Just Ben . . . he’s starting to level he’s gone to the lead here . . . Just Ben having his 34th start is he going to break through today we won’t put the mocker on him . . . he’s in front though . . . out wide now getting home really well is Strides . . . and Strides is going to blow all over top of them the last little bit and will beat Just Ben,” he said, hardly believing it himself.
“. . . second again, deary me . . . ” he summed up.
It was Just Ben’s 10th second placing in 34 career starts. His trainer Gary Vile isn’t giving up hope, confident a deserved win is just around the corner for the stable favourite.
“There’ll be a party when he does,” he says.
Just Ben is a bit of a character. He has a laid-back personality and is as easy as a rocking horse to ride each day, making him a favourite among the staff.
Vile said the ownership group involved in Just Ben — A Vincent, D Taylor, G Towers, C Oxenham, M Evans and M Osborn — won’t be waiting long to get that winning photo on the wall.
“They’re a great bunch of owners. They’re all friends of mine,” he says. “He’s been unlucky.
“He’s run some good races without much luck and only just been beaten. But he’s earning a cheque each time and paying for himself.
“We’ll win a race with him soon, don’t worry about that.
“His turn will come over summer,” Vile says.
Just Ben had also recorded four thirds, four fourths and five fifths, earning $34,485 in prizemoney.
He had also finished second on a further four occasions in trial races.
The lion’s share of the $15,000 stake in the ¯Ribbon Plus Maiden (1200m) at Otaki yesterday was Stride’s winning cut of $8400, while Just Ben earned $2700 for coming second.
Gary Vile