Triple Group One winner Yosei has a couple of serious obstacles to overcome apart from her opposition at Flemington on Saturday.
The first is the 58.5kg she will carry in the Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) and the second is a track she has never been totally happy on.
Apart from that, trainer Stuart Webb could hardly be happier with the mare who showed a surprisingly good glimpse of form in a recent barrier trial behind Speediness and the top spring prospect Shanghai Warrior.
“That was a pretty good effort in the trial to stick with some speedy horses like those two,” Webb said.
“She was taking ground off Shanghai Warrior, so it was a very encouraging effort.”
But Webb is cautious in his approach to Saturday’s Group Two race that is an important stepping stone to Yosei’s main spring target.
“She’s only small and as a result she’s never carried weight well,” Webb said.
“And for some reason she’s probably not at her best at Flemington either.”
Yosei will make her fourth trip to Sydney after the Flemington run and is looking to add to a record that includes a victory in the Group One Sires’ Produce at Randwick as a two-year-old and a third placing in last autumn’s Doncaster Handicap when just over a length behind More Joyous and Shoot Out.
She will open her Sydney campaign in the George Main Stakes and then tackle the Epsom Handicap, both Group Ones, both over 1600m and both at Randwick.
“She only had 52 kilograms in the Doncaster, that’s the sort of weight that gives her a chance these days,” Webb said.
“But I still expect her to run well at Flemington – I’d be disappointed if she didn’t after her good trial.”
Champion jockey Damien Oliver returns from suspension at Flemington, just in time to take the plum ride on Golden Slipper placegetter and recent first-up Sydney winner Snitzerland in the Group Two Danehill Stakes.
Oliver also retains the ride on boom filly Commanding Jewel in the Listed Cap d’Antibes Stakes (1100m).
