Oaks Mission for Unbeaten Yvonne
- Monday, 17 March 2003 00:00
Promising filly Yvonne will be stepped up in both class and distance following her gutsy win in Saturday's listed HC Nitschke Stakes at Cheltenham.
A daughter of the international siring success Last Tycoon, Yvonne made it four wins from four starts with her impressive photo finish victory.
Winning trainer Tony McEvoy reported today the filly would be given a month away from the races as she prepares to boost her value as a potential broodmare by chasing Group One glory.
Yvonne, who carried the familiar Coolmore Stud all navy colours to victory, was sent to the front early in Saturday's 1450 metre race and despite failing to settle and setting a strong pace promising type still found plenty to scramble home in a performance which impressed connections.
"Our plan was to try and get across the field early from the awkward barrier (Yvonne drew 12 of 12)," McEvoy reported today.
"But when Simon (jockey Simon Price) asked her to come back under him and settle she refused to do so and actually raced too keen."
"So to still be there fighting out at the line was a great effort," McEvoy added.
Part owned by leading racing and breeding identites Duncan Grimley and Kieran Moore, Yvonne is set to have her next start in the Group Three Lakewood Stud Stakes, the final lead up to the Group One Australasian Oaks at Morphettville.
"It's going to be a big ask for her (Yvonne) in the Lakewood as we are asking her to have a month off and then step up in distance and class," McEvoy noted.
"I think she is going to stay, her pedigree certainly suggests she will," he added referring to the filly as a genuine Group One Oaks chance.
The $100,000 Lakewood Stud Stakes over 1800 metres will be run at Cheltenham Park on April 12. The first of the Group One Oaks events, the Australasian Oaks will be run over 2000 metres at Morphettville on May 3, carrying a purse of over $250,000.
If the filly holds her form through those two events she is likely to head to the $250,000 Feltex Carpets SA Oaks on May 17, again at Morphettville.
Yvonne was just one of three winners on the Cheltenham Park card for the in form Lindsay Park stable. Earlier in the afternoon McEvoy cheered home Medipal and Luna Scene who both impressed in differing runs.
Medipal rocketed home to grab an unlikely victory in the Schweppes Handicap (1800m), while Luna Scene led throughout for a strong win in the Wolf Blass Handicap (1300m).
McEvoy is now some 33 wins in front of David Balfour in the Adelaide training premiership in a lead which is growing every week.
PIC - Fiona Tomlin.
