Smart Missile's Yiska Goes Three for Three

Mark Smith - Saturday April 23

Trainer Lee Freedman won’t be tempted to press on with Yiska despite the 2yo son of Smart Missile keeping his record at a perfect three for three at Doomben on Saturday.

Ridden aggressively by Tegan Harrison, Yiska lobbed one at and one back. Eased three-wide around the turn, Yiska made light of his topweight of 58ks to draw away to win by three and a half lengths from the Time Test gelding Acceber with the Sebring filly Iron Grace a half length back in third.

Nothing has got any closer than two lengths of Yiska, and Freedman said he should mature into a lovely 3yo.

“I think he is nearly at the end of his prep, that might not suggest it, but the way he behaved today, he was very overexuberant,” Freedman said.

‘I loved how he took a trail today and then got right away from them.

Yiska (image Brisbane Racing Club)

“He has good horse written on him.

‘Around the stable he is like an old gelding, but on raceday, he gets his vibe on.

Advertisement

“I was putting him out on Tuesday, and I think I will stick to that because he has had three runs in his first prep, and I think that is enough for him.

“There is something there under the hood that we can look at as a 3yo.   

Smart Missile

A homebred for Anthony Gow-Gates, Yiska is out of the classy Exceed And Excel mare Anevay, winner of the Listed VRC Talindert Stakes and runner-up in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview.

A $160,000 Easter yearling, Anevay is a half-sister to Group II Todman Stakes winner Krupt (Flying Spur).

A half-brother to 7-time winner Akecheta (So You Think) and 5-time winner Mix (Medaglia d’Oro), Anevay has a yearling colt and weanling colt by So You Think and was covered by Wootton Bassett (GB) last spring.

Advertisment

Race Result - Stradbroke Ball Hcp 1200m

Doomben Track: Heavy(8) Time: 1:12.31
1
Yiska
- 2g Smart Missile (AUS) x Anevay (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: D L Freedman Rdr: Ms T Harrison 58
2
3.5
Acceber
- 2g Time Test (GB) x Our Joan Of Arc (AUS) (Beautiful Crown (USA))
Tnr: Ms K Buchanan Rdr: J Innes Jnr 56.5
3
4.0
Iron Grace
- 2f Sebring (AUS) x Iron Rose (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: S J Morrisey Rdr: S T Collett 53
4
5.2
Beau Witness
- 2c Star Witness (AUS) x Miss Ellie Grace (AUS) (Denman (AUS))
Tnr: B C Baker Rdr: L V Cassidy 55
5
5.3
Clairvue Molly
- 2f Sizzling (AUS) x Sagatona (AUS) (Real Saga (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: Ben Thompson 54
6
7.6
Another Dazzler
- 2g Red Dazzler (AUS) x Rose Queen (AUS) (Holy Roman Emperor (IRE))
Tnr: Neil Hocking Rdr: Ms S Thornton 55
7
7.8
Bohemian Daisy
- 2f Hellbent (AUS) x Happy Hippy (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: J Byrne 55.5
8
9.0
State A Fact
- 2c Real Impact (JPN) x Vocalise (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Jean Van Overmeire 55
9
18.0
Johnny Dash
- 2c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Dashoff (AUS) (Dash For Cash (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: M R Du Plessis 54.5
More Reading...
Savabeel Colt Wins G3 Wellington Stakes
Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh won the Gr.3 Jennian Homes Wellington Stakes (1600m) for the fifth time at Otaki on Sunday with emerging talent Ammirati, but this was a win unlike any other.
Pierata Half-Brother To Slipper Winner Fireburn Breaks Maiden
While it may have taken until his fifth start to break his maiden, 3yo Pierata colt Kilbrannan has pedigree on his side and with the step up to 1300m, the Gary Portelli trained colt impressed at Newcastle on Sunday when breaking his maiden for Laurel Oak Bloodstock and partners.
2025 Japan Cup Winner - Aga Khan Gelding a World Beater
Aga Khan Studs don’t race a lot of geldings, but one that they do is Calandagan, who has taken giant strides in 2025 to become the Cartier European Horse of the Year and on Sunday he achieved the almost unthinkable with a history making win in the Group I Japan Cup (2400m).
Savabeel Mare Primed for G1 on Saturday
Stephen Marsh has his sights set on further feature-race success, with his proven performer Provence confirmed for Saturday’s Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham.
Toronado Mare Springs a Surprise in Jungle Dawn Classic
Quality Toronado daughter Toropa upset her more fancied rivals and showed a blistering turn of foot to take the Listed Jungle Dawn Classic over 1400m, the second leg of The Pinnacles Mares Series at the Ascot carnival.
Stakes Double for Westbury Stud Sires
New stakes winners for resident stallions Redwood and Tarzino were celebrated by Westbury Stud at the weekend.
Yulong Winner at Otaki
Yulong has wasted little time in making a mark on New Zealand racing this spring, and those emerald green and white colours were carried to another feature-race win by Azeezle in Sunday’s Levin Truck Services Levin Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
Karaka Million aim for Home Affairs Colt
The two-year-old race staged by the Levin Racing Club at Otaki every November has a proven record of unearthing top-level talent, and Te Akau Racing is hoping for more of the same with Sunday’s Levin Jumpouts 2YO (1100m) winner Kinnaird.
15 Saturday Stakes Races Out of Season
Last Saturday in Australia there were an astonishing 15 stakes races run in a time period most trainers see as being out of season, barring the Perth Summer Carnival, when we consider that our elite horses are programmed towards spring and autumn, so what is going on?
Reliable Man Bargain Buy Wins Cromwell Cup
Peachy Keen capped a super-consistent spring campaign with a last-gasp victory in Sunday’s $50,000 Happy Hire Cromwell Cup (2030m).