A Win At Last For Yoshi Raaza
- Monday, 21 June 2010 00:17
Patience and persistence finally paid dividends for the connections of Yoshi Raaza following his win in the $15,000 Pot A Round Garden Centre Maiden Steeplechase (3800m) at Casterton on Sunday.
The black seven-year-old gelding by Japanese sire Tayasu Tsuyoshi, who gained an warning from Thoroughbred Racing SA (TRSA) Chief Steward Graham Loch for ‘poor performance’ in April 2007, won his first ever race at his 49th start.
Trained by Colin Stewart, Yoshi Raaza was thought to have broken his maiden status after defeating a field of five in the $15,000 King Alfred Steeplechase Prelude (3800m) at the same venue last month.
However after Prince Vitality was fatally injured at the first hedge fence, the horse ambulance became bogged between jumps eleven and twelve.
Yoshi Raaza jumped fence twelve but Ballysteen and Cash Advance were unable to be steered past the stationery horse ambulance to jump the same fence.
Therefore their respective riders decided to safely navigate around the twelfth obstacle and as a result to those horses not being able to correctly complete the course, stewards declared the race void.
However on recommendation of raceday stewards, Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) paid connections the $8,775 winners’ cheque due to the "unique circumstances pertaining to the race" as described by RVL communications manager Shaun Kelly.
But there could be no doubts surrounding his latest ‘win’ with Yoshi Razza steered to an eight length victory by Paul Hamblin ahead of Sea Town and Ballysteen.
Sunday’s victory ensures he has doubled his official prizemoney tally of $8,150 with another $8,775 added to his record.
Considering Yoshi Razza made his debut in a two-year-old handicap on New Year’s Day in 2005 at Morphettville, its far to suggest connections are unlikely to return a profit on their investment.
To view the historical form of Yoshi Raaza, click here.
Picture: Jenny Barnes
