Racing: Justa Tad booked for mating

Top mare Justa Tad is to race for the last time this season, with confirmation she is to take up a breeding career.

Last year's New Zealand Oaks winner has been booked for a mating with Waikato stallion Pins this spring, New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing said yesterday.

Trainer Rudy Liefting said the horse's final racing preparation would be focused around the Hawkes Bay spring group one treble, which starts with the Mudgway Stakes on September 2.

Justa Tad, who was last season's New Zealand Filly of the Year, failed to win as a four-year-old this season and has not raced since April 8.

"She is just starting to speed up in her work again after she had one month in the spelling paddock," Liefting said.

Pins, who stands at Waikato Stud in Matamata, is the sire of three group one winners, including this season's Yalumba Stakes winner El Segundo and New Zealand Oaks winner Legs.

Pins is fourth on the New Zealand general sires' table this season with progeny earnings of more than $1 million.

* Top jumper Primo Canera will not race again this year after suffering a tendon injury.

Primo Canera was sore after his win in last Saturday's $40,000 Hawkes Bay Steeplechase.

A scan this week revealed minor tendon damage, said Waikato trainer Ann Browne.

"It's not bad but he won't race again this winter and will have a tendon implant in about six weeks."

Before the Hawkes Bay Steeplechase, Primo Canera won the $30,000 McGregor Grant Steeplechase at Ellerslie on June 5.

- NZPA