New home with a similar feel for Justice

Despite being almost 3500 kilometres from home, West Australian Scales Of Justice doesn’t feel out of place at trainer Darren Weir’s Warrnambool base.

Jarrod McLean, in charge of the Warrnambool operation for Weir, is hosting the Perth galloper and trainer Lindsey Smith for the spring.

Smith provided accommodation for Weir in Perth last summer with Stratum Star relegating Scales Of Justice into second place in the Group One Kingston Town Stakes.

Scales Of Justice has been at Warrnambool for six weeks and is stabled on millionaires’ row with Weir’s Group One performers.

“Lucky he’s got a good CV himself,” Smith said.

“Half of them are West Australian, so we feel like we’re back home.”

Scales Of Justice makes his Melbourne debut on Saturday in the Group Two Bobbie Lewis Stakes (1200m) at Flemington with Smith saying the trip isn’t ideal.

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But the trainer is hoping a change in training routine, adopting the methods of Weir and McLean, may put extra speed into Scales Of Justice’s legs.

“If he was at home he’d go to the 1400 (metres),” Smith said.

“He’s been on three or four road trips with the guys going to different tracks so that’s helped trim him up as well.

“I’ve thrown him in the system and got with Darren’s thoughts and hopefully I’ve picked up something along the way.

“You never know he might find a length or two which puts him in a dangerous spot.”

Following Saturday, Scales Of Justice heads to the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield on October 1 and the Toorak Handicap 13 days later after which a decision will be made whether to press on in Melbourne or return to Perth for the Railway Stakes, a race he won last year, and the Kingston Town Stakes.

“We didn’t have a lot for him if he didn’t come here, so it’s a good time to come over and have a look,” Smith said.