News

1000 Guineas to Yosei

13th Oct 2010

Stallions - Michelle Cullen - Wednesday, 13 October 2010

The petite filly with a big heart and motor, Yosei won her second Group 1 feature at Caulfield today when she claimed the $500,000 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.

Trained at the track by Stuart Webb, and ridden by Michelle Payne, her regular rider, Yosei was sent out at generous odds with More Strawberries (More Than Ready -Milva by Strawberry Road) heavily supported by punters.

Yosei was coming off a sixth to Secret Admirer in the Group One Flight Stakes over the Thousand Guineas distance of 1600m at Randwick earlier this month, where she had never looked like a winning chance travelling on the wrong leg.

“She had no luck in Sydney,” Webb told TVN’s Bruce Clark. “It’s great to win a race like that at Caulfield. “Gee she (Payne) rode her well.”

Jumping away well from barrier six Payne allowed Yosei to travel in the second division of the feature, near the rail, and swinging for home Alittlebitofmonica rolled away from the rail and allowed Payne to pinch many lengths.

Once into the straight Yosei came off the back of Heartsareforlove and Brazilian Pulse, quickly took control of the Classic to race away, and claim a first class win.

Heartsareforlove (Hussonet – Happy Heart by Exit to Nowhere) fought on valiantly over the final stages to claim the runners-up cheque with Brazilian Pulse (Captain Rio – Sharazad by Tenby) showing plenty of heart to hang on for third at just her fourth start.

As a juvenile, Yosei had won the Group One AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in April, on soft ground.

“I loved it,” Payne said. “She’s just a little star.”

By the former Chatswood shuttle stallion, Invincible Spirit (ex Rafha by Kris); Yosei was the first stakes winner at the highest level in the southern hemisphere for the son of Green Desert and is one of five worldwide.

Invincible Spirit’s northern hemisphere Group I winners are Vale of York (Breeders Cup Juvenile), Fleeting Spirit (July Cup), Lawman (Prix Jean Prat) and Hooray (Cheveley Park Stakes).

Offered at the 2008 William Inglis Melbourne Great Southern Weanling sale, Yosei failed to meet her reserve of $15,000 and was passed in at $14,500.

The failure to find a buyer at the sale for the filly was a stroke of luck for her owner, Victorian farrier John Pittard, as he now shares ownership of Yosei with Rob and Paul McClure.

One of a small string for Webb, Yosei has now earned more than $500,000 from 10 outings.

A juvenile debut winner, the filly showed potential with thirds in the Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes and Group 3 South Australian Breeders Stakes before her win in the Sires’ Produce Stakes.

Having her fourth start in her classic season the win today was her first this time in. Out of the non-winning Fuji Fairy (by Fuji Kiseki) who in turn is out of the unraced mare Lilac Fairy (by Rainbow Quest) Yosei’s wins at the elite level has added plenty to the top end of the family. With the Group I Ascot King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes winner, Alamshar (by Key of Luck) appearing in the fourth generation.

After Yosei, Fuji Fairy produced another filly, this time by Bianconi and she was offered earlier this year at the William Inglis Classic yearling sale. In a twist, that filly was also passed in. This time bidding stopped at $17,000 short of the $20,000 reserve.