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Just A Blur could head to Villiers Stakes after Goulburn Cup win

22nd Nov 2015

Sydney Morning Herald - Sunday, 23 November 2015

Just A Blur's Goulburn Cup win may rule her out of future country features, with the group 2 Villiers Stakes a possible target.

The five-year-old mare, trained by Canberra's Barbara Joseph and her son Paul Jones, came from back in the field to score a decisive 1-1/2 length win over Moral Victory in Sunday's $100,000 race.

The Villiers at Randwick on December 12 is also over 1600 metres and while Joseph suggested the Bega Cup could be next, her son wants to aim a little higher.

"Why not shoot for the stars and aim for the Villiers," Jones told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

"She would have to be a lightweight chance. She has probably gone beyond country races now and mum's got a history at the Randwick Mile."

In 1989, Joseph became the first woman to train the winner of the Doncaster Handicap when Merimbula Bay beat the TJ Smith-trained pair, Tjarra and Lygon Arms.

Just A Blur's jockey, Matthew Cahill, has no doubts the mare is up to city class after beating a strong Goulburn Cup field.

"It was a pretty strong race and she hasn't had any luck at her past few starts," he said. "She got that today."

With the country cups circuit in full swing, the Mike Moroney-trained Rhythm To Spare took out Sunday's listed Kilmore Cup, also over 1600m.

The six-year-old was ridden by Mark Zahra to beat Eximius by a long neck.

Zahra, who missed Melbourne Cup week through suspension, begins another stint on the sidelines on Monday after falling foul of stewards at Ballarat on Saturday.