Bendigo trainer Josh Julius is hoping to end a frustrating campaign for his stable star Just Folk with a victory in the $1 million The Gong (1600 metres) at Kembla Grange but he’ll have to overcome carrying top-weight and also an outside barrier.
Just Folk has run second in four of his five starts and the popular Bendigo galloper will have to contend with barrier 17 as well as having to carry the top-weight of 59 kgs.
At his past three starts, he’s finished second in the Seymour Cup, the Craven Plate and the Melbourne Cup Day Plate.
Julius speaking on RSN during the week said it was hard to find a jockey for Just Folk as he had left his decision late as to whether to run in the Ballarat Cup or The Gong.
He said Sydney jockeys tended to lock themselves in for a ride a fortnight out and that’s the reason he’s opted for Victoria’s leading country rider in Jarrod Fry who rode him at his first six starts, which included two wins but hasn’t been on since.
Just Folk’s recent form has been on soft tracks and Julius feels he’s a little bit better on a surface where he can get his toe into the ground but he feels he also races well on firm tracks.
Julius believes Just Folk is slightly more adept at the Sydney way of going and that also influenced his decision to head North.
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Julius also has said that wide barriers aren’t a major concern for Just Folk as he needs to build momentum in his races.
The gutsy Victorian galloper is a $21 chance with TopSport with the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Old Flame a $5.50 chance.
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