Trainer Lucy Yeomans is thankful for the opportunity of preparing a galloper for a tilt at a $1 million slot race at Cranbourne.
Jenni The Fox runs for slot holder Cape Schanck Racing in The Meteorite (1200m) on Saturday and wears the colours of Tony Ottobre and his family, the owners of Pride Of Jenni.
The task of finding a horse to race in Ottobre’s colours was not easy, but Yeomans said she was thankful to be given the call up to start Jenni The Fox.
Jenni The Fox is deep into her preparation, having started out with Alex Rae before transferring to Yeomans when she split from the training partnership she was in with Lloyd Kennewell.
“She’s deep into her prep, rock-hard fit, so we’ve just freshened her up,” Yeoman said.
“Tony Ottobre has the slot in The Meteorite and wanted one of his horses to take that place and he picked Fox and I think she will run a race.
“She will have to pull out a career best. She was very solid last start running third in a Group race.”
Jenni The Fox has performed well in a variety of classes, even chasing home Treasurethe Moment at Caulfield earlier in the year.
But Jenni The Fox has only the one win to her credit, a maiden, over 1300m at Cranbourne.
Yeomans said while Jenni The Fox was an outsider in Saturday’s race, and deservedly so, she expects the mare to run well.
“She’s not been straight-forward to freshen-up as she’s a big, gross horse, so it’s not as simple as backing right back off her,” Yeomans said.
“I’ve just given her a couple of gallops, kept it short and sharp.
“She can run a sectional, but we’re realistic it is a big ask of her, but she is very, very genuine and she goes to the races and does her absolute best.
“My ideal scenario is they go red-hot flat-out and she can travel in behind and they’re getting tired and she’s storming home late.”
Yeomans has only been training under her own name since September and has two winners from just eight starters to date.
She said having a starter in a $1 million race at her home track means a lot.
“Even having a runner is a fantastic opportunity that is not lost on me,” Yeoman said.
“She’s not one of the main chances, but she will run well and be competitive in a $1 million race.
“If she were to win it, it would be incredible.”
