Just An Excuse
New Zealand Standardbred racehorse
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Just An Excuse (4 December 1998 – 30 June 2008) was a champion New Zealand Standardbred racehorse, notable for twice winning the New Zealand Trotting Cup, in 2003 and 2004.[1]
| Just An Excuse | |
|---|---|
| Breed | Standardbred |
| Sire | Live Or Die (US) |
| Grandsire | Die Laughing |
| Dam | My Excuse |
| Maternal grandsire | Smooth Fella (US) |
| Sex | Gelding |
| Foaled | 4 December 1998 |
| Died | 30 June 2008 (aged 9) |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Trainer | Robert F. Mitchell (NZ) |
| Record | |
| 39 starts: 17 wins, 15 placings | |
| Earnings | |
| NZ$1,047,157 | |
| Last updated on: 5 November 2021. | |
Racing career
Bred by Ollie and Irene Haines,[2] trained by Robert Mitchell, and driven by Todd Mitchell, Just An Excuse won the following major races in New Zealand and Australia:[3]
- 2004 New Zealand Free For All, beating Mister D G and Jagged Account
- 2004 New Zealand Trotting Cup, beating Elsu and Howard Bromac[4]
- 2004 Ballarat Cup, beating Sokyola and Double Identity
- 2003 New Zealand Trotting Cup beating Elsu and Jack Cade
- 2003 New Zealand Messenger Championship, beating Sly Flyin and All Hart
- 2003 Noel J Taylor Memorial Mile, beating All Hart and Jagged Account
Just An Excuse was also placed:
- third in the 2005 New Zealand Trotting Cup behind Mainland Banner and Alta Serena
- second in the 2003 Auckland Pacing Cup behind Elsu
It was a testament to his class that he won the two New Zealand Cups and the New Zealand Free For All in spite of top-class competitors such as Elsu and Mister D G.
Just An Excuse died on 30 June 2008, needing to be put down after he broke his leg.[5]
