Yesterday’s Songs let his supporters down a week ago at Moonee Valley but he has returned to his best at Flemington.
Mike Moroney is convinced the gelding is better than winter class but is racing him during the off-peak time in Melbourne to try to boost his rating ahead of the spring carnival.
Yesterday’s Songs burst through after a few anxious moments in Saturday’s Winter Championship Heat (1400m) to score a strong win and Moroney plans to press on to next month’s Winter Championship Final.
After a midfield finish in the Group One Goodwood (1200m) last month, Yesterday’s Songs started $2.70 stepping up in trip at Moonee Valley last Saturday but the move didn’t get the desired result as gelding finished unplaced.
“We knew that Moonee Valley might have been a tough track for him but we were hoping his class would get him through,” Moroney said.
“With a better barrier he was a totally different horse today. He showed the real turn of foot we know he’s got.”
Glen Boss picked up the ride on Saturday at the expense of Damien Oliver who was forced to miss the Flemington meeting after being involved in a fall at Bendigo on Thursday.
Oliver is joint leader in the Melbourne premiership and kept that position after Craig Williams went winless.
Dwayne Dunn, who sits two wins behind Oliver and Williams, also missed out.
Yesterday’s Songs, backed from $7 to $5.50, raced midfield with cover and was able to push his way though a narrow gap in the straight to sprint to a half-length win over Mr Utopia with Good Value a short half-head away third.
“There were a few scary moments for both of us there for a little bit where he got jammed up but he was pretty brave and he kept pushing his head through the gap,” Boss said.
Linda Meech had her day soured after she was fined $1500 for excessive use of the whip in her win on Golden Oldies in the Ken Cox Handicap.
