BENDIGO galloper Just Folk has made a triumphant entry to Group level racing, winning Saturday's $300,000 Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley.
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Trained by Josh Julius, who leading into the race described his operation as "a little stable having a crack", Just Folk was piloted to victory by Irish jockey John Allen, winning at odds of $15 as part of the Cox Plate day card.
"It's pretty surreal... I give you the tip," an elated Julius said post-race.
The decision to scratch Just Folk from Friday night's Rendr Handicap where the five-year-old gelding had been second favourite in early betting paid dividends on Saturday.
"We scratched from last night thinking this might be our chance. It's obviously not the most regal of Crystal Miles ever run and we thought with the form he is in... to come out and do it is a massive thrill," Julius said.
Just Folk sat third at the 800m mark behind leaders Rhinoceros and Begood Toya Mother before closing the gap to a length-and-a-half with 400m to go.
It's pretty surreal... I give you the tip
- Josh Julius after winning the Crystal Mile
Just Folk hit the front at the 200m mark and ran on strong to beat home Begood Toya Mother - a Group One winner - by half-a-length.
Not only the trainer of Just Folk, which now has five wins from 15 starts since debuting at Echuca in July last year, Julius is among the family ownership.
"My fiancee Cassie and I are lucky enough to lease a fair majority of him off my grandparents (Leo and Maureen Dwyer. They bred him at home and to have him here doing this is massive," Julius said.
"A Group winner in my grandparents colours, it's just absolutely huge."
Just Folk's win on Saturday followed three placings (one second and two thirds) from his four previous starts after returning from a six-week freshen up at Ararat last month.
"His uncle is Tears I Cry and I was lucky enough to strap him to finish third in this race many moons ago (2007), so this is great," Julius said.
"We're obviously just a small team in Bendigo and to be able to achieve this is just unbelievable."
The Crystal Mile was first run in 1982 when it was won by Getting Closer, with Just Folk becoming the 40th winner of the face.
"He got a beautiful run," winning jockey Allen said.
"He put himself in the race and was travelling really well. He had a little think about it when he was out in front, but he was always doing enough and we were lucky enough to hold on."
Just Folk's Group 2 win on Saturday kicks off a week in which Bendigo will get the opportunity to bask in the racing spotlight on Wednesday with the running of the Bendigo Cup.
There were 33 nominations lodged last Thursday for the $400,000 Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m).
The only locally-trained nomination for the Cup is Jarrod Robinson's Equine Philosopher.
Sydney St Leger Stakes winner Warning has been allocated the top weight of 59kgs for the Cup, which for the second year in a row will be run without a crowd