The favourite Yellow Sam won the initial running of the Group III Kevin Sharkie Mystic Journey Stakes (1200m) at Hobart, which had been known for 18 years as the Bow Mistress Stakes.
Yellow Sam - Fred Kersley (image Racing Photos)
Ridden by Fred Kersley for Lindsey Smith, Ready For Victory's admirably consistent 4-year-old daughter raced three wide with cover the trip. She came with a barnstorming finish down the centre of the track to defeat the Tough Speed mare Alvarinho by a half-length, with the veteran Master Of Design mare Megamea back in third.
Making her stakes debut, Yellow Sam advances her record to five wins, three seconds, and three thirds from 11 starts with earnings of $275,390.
"We always thought she was a black-type horse, and as I own a share with a few mates, we thought we would target this race.
"Imogen Miller and Brendon did a fabulous job with this horse, as I have only been here a week. I think their horse (Alvarinho) ran second.
"Fred is an underrated rider, which he proves time and time again, but he does not receive the rides. He looked calculated and still and looked the winner a fair way out, it's just unfortunate I had to beat Imogen.
"She will stay with Imogen (for the Vamoss Stakes on Launceston Cup Day), and I will come over a couple of days before.
"I love this place. It reminds me so much of Western Australia – pretty laid back, nice conditions, great people and the club has been great."
A $10,000 purchase for her trainer from the Kelly Thoroughbreds draft at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale, Yellow Sam sold for $4250 as a weanling.
Yellow Sam a $10,000 Inglis Gold yearling
He is the first stakes-winner for stakes-winner More Than Ready (USA) stallion Ready For Victory.
The Caulfield Guineas placegetter has been shopped around a bit in recent years, but last spring, he covered ten mares at Pascoe's Oakey Vet Hospital, Queensland, for $4,400.
A descendant of Dave Chrystal's grand producer I Like It, Yellow Sam is the first named foal of the Bel Esprit mare Juniper Hall, who retired after producing the Mystic Journey Stakes winner.
