Tiley’s faith in colt justified

Nigel Tiley believes The Justice League can realise his full potential this preparation.

The Pukekohe trainer produced the four-year-old to knock out his Boxing Day rivals at Ellerslie and he now has his sights firmly set on a Trentham feature.

‘‘I’ve got him in the Thorndon at Wellington, we’re going to have a crack at some decent races with him,’’ Tiley said.

‘‘I’ve always thought that he was a very good horse.’’

The Justice League won the Wellington Guineas at Trentham last season before he crossed the Tasman to join Darren Weir’s stable. However, he failed to fire in two starts, both at Caulfield.

‘‘He just didn’t come up in Australia so we made the call to bring him back,’’ Tiley said.

While The Justice League has yet to race beyond a mile, he is expected to cope with more ground.

‘‘He’s in the Herbie Dyke Stakes as well and I’m convinced that he will get 2000 metres,’’ Tiley said.

A sale ring blow turned to a Boxing Day celebration for Little Avondale Stud and Awapuni horseman Stephen Mercer.

Together, they bred Fibonacci who was all set to bring them a massive payday in Australia last year before a scoping problem resulted in them bringing the son of Per Incanto home.

At his fourth race day appearance on Monday, the Mercertrained three-year-old opened his winning account for them at Otaki.

‘‘Stephen owned the mare Da Vinci Code and we went 50/50,’’ Little Avondale’s Sam Williams said.

‘‘The first foal by Per Incanto was one of four I took to the Sydney Classic Sale and she made $A90,000 and Per Incanto was the second leading sire there.

‘‘The mare went back to the stallion and the result was Fibonacci, who we also took to Sydney. He went through the ring and made $A310,000.

‘‘We had him scoped in the morning and he was as good as gold, but it was a very hot day and he failed the scope afterwards so the sale was off. We had him scoped the next day and under the conditions of the sale he passed.’’

Fibonacci placed on debut last season before he finished fifth in the Wellesley Stakes.

‘‘We thought he would win the Wellesley but he drew wide and he was a bit weak – he’s just needed some time to mature,’’ Mercer said.

With Little Avondale, he will offer Fibonacci’s brother (Lot 638) during the Select Sale next year.

‘‘He’s a big, strong colt,’’ he said. ‘‘He a pretty imposing horse.’’