For trainer Lindsey Smith, Yellow Sam’s toughness in a finish wasn’t going to be the reason she’d be beaten in the final race at Caulfield on Saturday.
Second up off a win in the Golden Topaz (1200m) at Swan Hill, Yellow Sam recorded her first win at metropolitan level and her eighth win from 17 starts, taking out the MRC Chairman’s Club Handicap (1440m) at open level.
Ridden by regular jockey Fred Kersley, $5 chance Yellow Sam settled midfield off a fast tempo and had plenty of work to do inside the final 200m but rallied strongly to score by a half-neck over Lim’s Saltoro, with a short head back to race favourite The Open in third.
Only half a length covered the first four in running, the quartet rounded out by $ chance Rheinberg, and Smith said her will to win was evident.
“It’s easy to train fast horses,” Smith quipped.
“I’ve got a few slow ones at the moment. But she’s been a courageous horse from day dot.
“She’s a courageous horse and has a great will to win. As I’ve said many times, will maybe out does ability sometimes.”
Kersley echoed the sentiment after notching up his fourth Victorian metropolitan winner for the season.
“She’s a pleasure to deal with,” Kersley said.
“She’s probably one of the gutsiest horses I’ve ever had the pleasure to deal with. Time and time again she’s come back as a filly, a mare and she’s held that form, so I take my hat off to Lindsey.”
While the day ended on a thrilling note, the penultimate race had a sad result, with the Maddie Raymond trained gelding Rolls being humanely euthanised on course as a result of injuries sustained during the running of Race 8.
Jockey Harry Grace was aboard the 2023 Warrnambool Cup winner and was dislodged in the straight.
“After a fall at Caulfield Harry Grace is off to for scans on a suspected wrist injury,” the Victorian Jockeys Association said. Grace was conscious and mobile after the incident.
Race 8 was won by the Ciaron Maher trained Sayedaty Sadaty.
