Trots Centre: Wins and a loss a rollercoaster ride for Justice

There's been plenty of winning and potentially more to come but it's been an emotional few days for John Justice, who lost a special young pacer to a heart-breaking bacteria.

Justice, who takes a team of four to Tabcorp Park today, forecast the health battles of Time Served last Friday and, despite receiving treatment in Werribee, the unraced colt lost his battle on Sunday.

"He was a really promising young horse and it still brings a tear to my eye talking about him now. We were devastated on Sunday - it was a hard day to get through," Justice said.

"They are like family in the end when you have them for so long. He just kicked out and got a little cut on his back leg and it was the end of his life.

"It was a bacteria and it went through his system and we couldn't save him. He was in at Werribee on Friday morning and on Sunday morning they rang me and said he passed away."

In an interview on TrotsVision last week at Tabcorp Park Melton, the Toolern Vale trainer-driver spoke about the irony of stablemate Justice Served putting in a courageous winning performance as his little brother fought for his life. And now he's hoping that horse can make it three wins on end in today's Allied Express Pace (1720m) at the same track.

Justice Served, who is out of the same mare (Keepers Daughter) as the late Time Served, is likely to start favourite in the rating 68-79 event after back-to-back front-running triumphs in fast time.

Justice has four runners engaged on Friday's card and there's plenty of hype around one of those in particular.

Hatchback returned from a spell in dominant style at Melton last Friday and goes in search of career victory number seven in the Alderbaran Park Trot (2240m).

Justice said he gave the son of Angus Hall a break following his win at Melton in May with an eye towards some features races later in the year.

"I just decided that it was a good time because otherwise he'd just keep racing and really there's no plan. We like to have a bit of a plan with him and that was put him out, bring him back, give him a few runs now and then maybe give him another little short break and have him ready for the good races if they eventually do go ahead," he said.

"I wouldn't say he'd be the best one, but he's right up there and it wouldn't surprise me at all if he improved a bit more and he was dominant for a while.

"I just think maybe as he gets a bit older that might happen, when he gets into the older feature races."

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