From injury nightmare to Championships hope: Just In Time’s redemption run

It has taken three years, three different trainers but Just In Time might be ready to deliver on her potential in the opening qualifier for the Provincial-Midway Championships at Hawkesbury on Thursday.

Dynamic Syndicates have always had time for the daughter of Justify, but it has taken until she matured at five to show what they have been seeing since she was a two-year-old.

A Newcastle maiden winner on debut, when prepared by Richard and Will Freedman, Just In Time went straight to the Flemington carnival and was only beaten three lengths in the 2023 Carbine Club Stakes.

She pulled up with bone chips after her next run in the Spring Stakes, prompting the chance of trainer.

“The majority owner in her wanted her to be trained off the beach after the bone chips, so we moved her to Ciaron [Mahar] and she had three runs for him before we moved to Jason Deamer,” Dynamic’s Adam Watt said.

“She hadn’t lived up to expectations, but since Jason has had her, she has found her form.”

Just In Time has won three of her five starts for Deamer, but her best effort was a closing sixth after a wide passage in the Magic Millions Fillies and Mares last time out.

“We took a shot at the $1 million at the Gold Coast, and for a benchmark 72 mare to do that against good company was amazing,” Watt said.

“We decided straight after that we would come to the race on Thursday, and Tim Clark, who rode her at the Gold Coast, booked himself to ride her.

“We won this heat with Rapt last year, and I think Just In Time is as good or a better chance.

“I think we are finally seeing on the track what she has shown us for a long time.”

The Championships favourite Oui Oui Oui will look to qualify on her home track and is the $3.30 top pick in front of Just In Time at $5, while recent Saturday winner Miss Spacegirl is at $6.

The first two home will qualify for the Provincial-Midway Championships Final at Randwick on April 11.