Group One targets for Scales Of Justice

Despite being wayward at a crucial stage in his first Victorian start, Perth Group One winner Scales Of Justice has shown he can be a force to be reckoned with in upcoming feature handicaps in Melbourne.

The Lindsey Smith-trained Railway Stakes winner finished second to Newmarket Handicap winner Redkirk Warrior in Saturday’s Group Two Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington.

It was the gelding’s first attempt down the straight course at Flemington and the five-year-old shied outwards inside the final 200m before ducking in sharply.

With Brad Rawiller aboard, Scales Of Justice regrouped to finish second, 2-1/2-lengths from the winner and has been earmarked to tackle the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) and Group One Toorak Handicap at his next two starts.

Both races are at Caulfield with the Rupert Clarke on October 1 and the Toorak 13 days later.

“To pick himself up after that little incident and still run second was good,” Smith said.

“Brad said he just got a little bit lost and went to exit right. He said he then gave him a little tap in the stomach with his spurs and he reacted and went the other way.

“So to pick himself up and run second in a field like that was a good effort heading towards the 1400-metre race.

“I think if there would have been a horse either side of him there wouldn’t have been an issue.”

Scales Of Justice is yet to miss a place in his 18 starts with nine wins, eight seconds and a third.

He has won four Group races in the west including last year’s Group One Railway Stakes and was beaten in a photo finish to the Group One Kingston Town Classic by Stratum Star.