Lucy Yeomans has been associated with many a good horse and is not going to get overawed at the thought of winning her first Group 1 race.
In a training partnership with Lloyd Kennewell, the pair will saddle up I Am Unstoppable in the Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Yeomans was a part of the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace team when Coolangatta won last year’s Lightning, toppling crowd favourite Nature Strip.
Being with a big stable taught Yeomans how to absorb pressure and she said that had carried her well in her new role with Kennewell.
“With this horse it feels like working for Maher-Eustace,” Yeomans said.
“When I was there, I was used to absorbing the pressure, as they had multiple good horses.
“It’s nice to have one top horse to focus on although we’ve got lots of nice young horses in the wings, so it’s not all about I Am Unstoppable.
“Last year, I said to Lloyd, I thought Coolangatta going into the Lightning was going really well, but I didn’t think she could beat Nature Strip.
“He was the hype horse, so hopefully it follows on this year as Imperatriz is the hype horse and he (I Am Unstoppable) can go past her.”
I Am Unstoppable has raced up the Flemington straight on three occasions, finishing second each time, all last spring.
The most recent was in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) last November.
Yeomans has been co-training with Kennewell since last August and was involved in the preparation of the colt last spring.
She said I Am Unstoppable was a different horse this time around, more athletic, more furnished.
“He’s turned from a boy into a man,” Yeomans said.
“His coat is the best it has ever been and he’s moving as well as ever.
“Last prep, we didn’t struggle to get the weight off him, but he was a bit big all-the-time and did a bit well, whereas this prep we have given him one trial and he was already at his racing weight.
“He’s maintained that nicely with the more work we’ve put into him.”
Yeomans said Saturday’s outing would determine I Am Unstoppable immediate program.
The Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington next month is on the cards, as is a potential trip to the UK for Royal Ascot.
“The future for him we’re not sure about,” Yeomans said after Widden Stud bought into the colt.
“We are guaranteed we can race him until July and then we have a discussion as that was part of the stud deal.
“Lloyd and I have had a pipedream of taking him to Royal Ascot, but we haven’t really discussed it.
“If he wins the Lightning or the Newmarket Handicap, we will have a discussion about it, but whether it happens, it still has to be decided.”
