Just The Best passing

26 May, 2009.
CHAMPION sire Just The Best had to be humanely put down today as a result of complications through old age.
The rising 13-year-old son of Credibility and Hall of Fame bitch Flying Amy was the champion he was bred to be.
Winner of the Group 2 Vince Curry Maiden at Ipswich in race record time, he went on to become the then second fastest ever at 29.78 behind only his mother at Albion Park over 520m.
Raced and trained by Paul Felgate, Just The Best became a sensation at stud, initially with Paul and then with Tony and Jane Apap at The A Team.
His champion bitch Bogie Leigh is already a member of the Hall of Fame.
He has a number of high class stud dogs making a name for themselves at stud today, like Surf Lorian, Big Daddy Cool, Elite State etc.
He is represented in this week's English Derby final by Kinda Ready. He also sired last year's Irish Derby winner Shelbourne Aston.
Just The Best had been at The A Team for eight years and among the first bitches he served there was Barrio Fiesta the dam of Surf Lorian.
"There are a number of frozen straws that Paul has retained, but none of these are for sale," said Tony Apap.
"It's a very sad day up here. He's been a part of everyone's life for so long. He was a real aristocrat.
"It was sad to see him slip so much lately. We couldn't let that happen any more."
Among the greats he sired were City Of Sydney, Waterview Star and his brother Scottish Express, Frosty Fruits, Cool Mat, Greasy Grizzly and Lissiloo, Miss Spicy etc.
Just The Best has developed into an outstanding broodbitch sire.
Last Saturday night's Group 1 Maturity winner Aston Trivett is out of a Just The Best bitch.