Ewa Justice is the next generation of a wonderful harness racing family and quickly making a name for herself.
Justice, 21, is the daughter of top horseman John Justice, of Shakamaker and Safe And Sound fame, Her uncle is another Hall of Famer, Lance Justice, who trained the likes of Smoken Up and Sokyola.
Go back a generation and Ewa’s grandmother, Josie, who was a driving force behind her decision to pursue race driving, was a trainer of note and prepared her last winner in January, 2022 at the age of 90. She passed away months later.
It was with mixed emotions Ewa drove her first Group 1 winner aboard 12-year-old veteran Modern Bliss in the $150,000 Ladbrokes Tasmania Cup on March 2.
Josie was born in Tasmania and to see her granddaughter snare the first major win of her career in the Apple Isle would have thrilled her.
“Her grandmother would be very proud … so am I,” John Justice said.
Remarkably, Ewa’s first Group 1 win was just the 39th victory of her career and came before she had even landed a city-class winner at her “home” track, Melbourne’s home of harness racing, Melton.
“That win came at only my second drive in a Group 1 (race) and it was my first real chance because my first one was a $201 outsider with no hope,” she said. “It wasn’t until about a month later when it really sunk in.
“I still haven’t got my first Melton city winner. I’ve got my best chance yet to turn it around on Saturday night with four terrific drives.”
Three of the four drives are trained by her father, John: Helluva (race one), Hatchback (two) and Aldebaran Boyd (seven). In race six she will drive Le Belle Bijoux for trainer Kari Males.
“I think this is only the second time I’ve had four drives at a Melton Saturday night meeting,” she said. “It’s great to be on Helluva, he’s my favourite horse. I won the Charlton Cup on him a few starts back and even from the wide draw, I think he’ll run big race this week.
“I think Hatchback is my best hope in the second race. He seems to be right back to his best and if he can find the lead without having to do too much work, I think he’ll be very hard to run down.”
While Justice’s background might make it seem obvious why she’s turned to driving, it wasn’t a given for a long time.
She credits the lockdowns during the pandemic for her renewed interest in driving.
“I did do pony trots as a kid, but I didn’t get on the bigger horses until lockdown. It was really because I was bored and there was nothing else to do. It just sort of grew from there,” Justice said.
“Dad was keen. He put the papers in front of me (to apply for a harness driving licence), but in my third year of studying social work at Latrobe (University) and who knows where that will lead.
“I’m loving the driving for now and am really fortunate to have Dad supporting me because it would be so hard trying to make your mark as a junior without family support in this game.”