Just a Dash
{{short description|Australian Thoroughbred racehorse}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox racehorse
| horsename = Just A Dash (AUS)
| image =
| caption =
| sire = Whiskey Road (USA)
| grandsire = Nijinsky (CAN)
| dam = Native Lass (AUS)
| damsire = Caranna (AUS)
| sex = Gelding
| foaled = 1977
| death_date = 2 November 2012 (aged 35)
| country = Australia
| colour = Bay
| breeder = Mr & Mrs I C Woodford-Smith
| owner = Lloyd Williams George Frew and Tom Pettiona
| trainer = T. J. Smith
| record = 61: 10–7–8
| earnings =
| race = Melbourne Cup (1981)
Adelaide Cup (1981)
|awards=
|honours =
|updated= 27 December 2011
}}
Just A Dash (1977 – 2 November 2012) was a notable Australian Thoroughbred racehorse, who won the 1981 Melbourne Cup.{{cite news|url=http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/oldest-living-melbourne-cup-winner-turns-32/1583899.aspx|title=Oldest living Melbourne Cup winner turns 32|publisher=Illawarra Mercury|date=1 August 2009}}
He was sired by Whiskey Road (USA). His dam Native Lass (AUS) was by Caranna (AUS).
The horse won the race by 2 ¼ lengths providing T. J. Smith with just his second Melbourne Cup. He was ridden by Peter Cook whose father Billy Cook had himself ridden two previous winners of the race.
Just A Dash was also victorious in the 1981 SAJC Adelaide Cup and the SAJC St. Leger Stakes.
Leading up to the Cup he had placed:
- 7th in the Herbert Power Handicap behind Flashing Light
- 6th in the Caulfield Cup behind Silver Bounty
- 5th in the Dalgety Handicap behind Mr CromwellNew Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1982 (11th edition). Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand
He was put down at Willow Dene Stud near Wollongong at the age of 35 in late 2012. Until his death, he was the oldest surviving Melbourne Cup winner.{{cite news|last=Roots|first=Chris|title=Cup winner Just A Dash dead at 35|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/horseracing/cup-winner-just-a-dash-dead-at-35-20121103-28rbk.html|accessdate=15 December 2012|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=4 November 2012}}