Prepared by Robbie Laing, Just for Starters kicked off his career with a stylish three-quarter length win over 1000 metres confirming the potential he had shown on the track.
"He had a nice jumpout last week in the fog, I couldn't see a thing, but when the jockey came back and said he won by four lengths, so I said to the owners a repeat of that and he was a big chance," Laing said.
Laing paid $45,000 for the son of Foreplay at last year's Inglis Premier Yearling Sale and explained fellow trainer Mike Moroney forced him to pay significantly more than he anticipated.
"I thought he'd make $20,000 but Mike took a shine to him as well and we
went head-to-head," he said. "He's got a real speed pedigree and he was a smooth walking horse - he looks cheap now I guess."
Bred and offered for sale by Woodside Park, Just for Starters is the first winner for Red Ransom (USA) mare Belle de Rouge, a grand-daughter of Zeditave's Group III winning sister Zedagal.
He's been a character from day one as you can see in this picture Woodside Park sent in to the Breednet Foal Gallery in 2011.
It's a prolific Black Type family that has produced Group I stars such as Melito and Greys Innn in addition to Zeditave, so it's no surprise Just for Starters can run.
Foreplay has a 69% winner to runner strike rate despite his chequered career at stud and has left smart stakes-winners Decision Time, Playcidium Mint and That's Not It from comparatively limited opportunities.
Foreplay stands at Woodside Park this year at a fee of $6,600.
