Winning a Group One race is a good way to end a losing streak.
When Yosei lines up in Saturday’s Group One Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm she will be attempting to win her first race for two years.
The last time she visited the winner’s stall was in the 2011 running of the Tiara when she staged a last-to-first victory with regular partner Michelle Payne aboard.
Trainer Stuart Webb believes the mare is better shape this year.
“That prep she was a little bit rushed for her third run coming off knee surgery the previous spring and I reckon she’s nearly going better this year,” Webb said.
The trainer said bad luck had dogged Yosei since her fast-finishing third in the Group One Robert Sangster at Morphettville in April.
“She never got a crack at them in the Goodwood then in the Doomben 10,000 she was run off her legs early but was strong through the line,” he said.
“In the Stradbroke if she stays on the fence she gets (winner) Linton’s run but when she came out to make her run she was checked in the final 50 metres.
“That probably cost her one-and-a-half to two lengths and had it not occurred she probably runs third or fourth instead of eighth.”
Webb believes Yosei remains competitive at Group One level.
“I know she hasn’t won for a long time but you’ve only got to look at her form with thirds in the Doncaster, Toorak and Sangster in the last year or so to know she’s still racing very well without winning,” he said.
Yosei raced in blinkers in the Stradbroke and Webb is happy to keep them on the mare in the Tiara.
Blinkers also stay on Streama who wore them for the first time when third in the Stradbroke Handicap.
Glen Boss, who rode her to fourth in the Doncaster and again in the Stradbroke, undergoes knee surgery this week, leaving the way open for Hugh Bowman to reunite with Streama who he has ridden to two Group One victories.
