The John Sargent-trained Perfect Justice, despite being a runner-up as favourite in its prior two starts, was again supported into favouritism at $4.20 and delivered as expected by overtaking The Mona Lisa in the Midway Handicap over 1600 metres.
This victory marked Grima’s 31st metropolitan success for the 2025/26 season, breaking her tie with the 30-win defending champion Braith Nock in the spirited contest for the Sydney apprentices premiership.
With only five metropolitan meetings remaining this season, Grima is in a prime position to become just the fourth female apprentice, following in the footsteps of Rachel King (2017/18), Winona Costin (2014-15), and Kathy O’Hara (2004-05), to secure this prestigious title.
“It’s good to be in front in the premiership but there’s still a lot of work to do,” Grima stated.
“I was confident during the race on Perfect Justice because even though we were three-wide with cover, he was handling the conditions and I thought we were in the better going.
“When The Mona Lisa kicked, for a couple of strides I was a bit worried but the blinkers helped and he really attacked the line today.”
Perfect Justice surged to the line, defeating The Mona Lisa ($7) by a clear long neck, reversing the placings from their previous encounter in a Randwick Midway two weeks prior, with a substantial gap of over five lengths to Murphilly ($6.50) in third.
Trainer John Sargent expressed his relief that Perfect Justice had finally achieved a win after a couple of close calls this campaign.
“I know he was becoming a little costly for punters when he was beaten as favourite two races in a row but I hope they stuck with him today and got their money back,” Sargent commented.
“The blinkers kept him focussed and he really wanted to chase after The Mona Lisa today.
“I was actually looking for a 2000m race for him but decided to give him another run at the 1600m because the heavy track would make it a bit more of a test.
“We will keep him going for now, he’s racing well and handles the wet tracks so it’s the right time of year to have him in work. I’ll see if we can step him up in trip next start.”
Earlier, Alysha Collett executed a brilliant tactical ride on Cameron Crockett’s Leovanni to claim the TAB Highway Plate (1600m).
Collett positioned Leovanni ($20) to trail hot favourite Moon Sweeper ($1.50) throughout the race, before breaking away from the grey’s back in the final stretch to finish stronger and win by a half-length, with Red Rags To Bulls ($9.50) finishing a distant third, more than two lengths behind.
“I wanted to have my mare in a position to follow Moon Sweeper through the race,” Collett explained.
“Moon Sweeper got to the front but I could sense he was ‘loafing’ just a little. My mare dug deep but it was only in the last 50m or so I was confident she was going to get there.”
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