Leilani Justice overcame extreme pre-race nerves to tick-off another major career milestone at Maryborough on Monday.
The 22-year-old daughter of harness racing great Lance prepared her first winner as a trainer when Deuce Coupe broke through for his maiden Australian triumph in the Red House Bakery Pace.
Justice was also at the controls as the former Kiwi pacer came with a three-wide run in the last lap and raced clear in the concluding stages to claim victory by more than 6m.
“I don’t think that I’ve felt as nervous as I did before the score-up yesterday,” she said.
“I knew from his work at home that he was going better after his two runs back, I just wasn’t sure how the race would play out.”
Deuce Coupe put the writing on the wall with a slashing second behind Justice’s father’s horse The Beach Fantasy at Yarra Valley a week earlier and Monday’s victory now takes his career record to two wins from 19 starts.
“I nearly fell out of the cart pulling up after the race, my legs were shaking so hard from the adrenaline of the run,” Justice said.
“He went super. It was his breakthrough win since coming to Australia, so we’re definitely rapt with how he’s going.
“It’s one that I will remember because of all the hard work that has gone into getting him to this point.”
Justice now has two winners in the sulky after guiding Chinski to a long-odds success at Maryborough back on June 2.
