Exciting Stakes-Winner for Yes Yes Yes

Tara Madgwick - Saturday September 6

Relocated to Gooree Park Stud this year, Everest hero Yes Yes Yes produced an exciting stakes-winner in New Zealand on Saturday with promising three year-old Affirmative Action taking out the $100,000 Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at his second race start.

Affirmative Action winning the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie.  Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Trainer Pam Gerard had been confident of a good showing from her lightly raced three-year-old Affirmative Action and that’s exactly what she got when the showy gelding upset the applecart at a Fixed Odds quote of $91 when saluting at at Ellerslie.

He had finished third behind To Bravery Born over 1100m at Taupo last month and improved markedly for Saturday’s first stakes race on the Ellerslie card as punters ignored his claims completely.

Advertisement

Rider George Rooke took the bull by the horns and went forward at the start to sit outside leader Lady Iris, where his mount relaxed beautifully.

Travelling like a winner at the 300m Affirmative Action took control and despite being pushed all the way by He Who Dares, held on to win by a long neck, running a respectable 1.12.54 for the journey on the Soft 6 surface that was slowed by rain throughout the day.

Gerard was all smile as she accepted congratulations from a large group of owners.

“We’ve been waiting for him for a long time as we had tried to get him going as a two-year-old,” Gerard said

“You can see how big and lanky he is and I think if we had of pushed on it could have gone the wrong way for him.

“We have been patient, given him a couple of trials and he has not put a foot wrong.

“It’s super exciting today as we’ve had a tough time lately and this is a reward for all the staff at home who have been putting in the hard yards.

“He is a good horse, we thought he was and it gives us confidence with a win like this.”

Rooke admitted the horse had done plenty wrong but just had too much ability for his rivals.

“There wasn’t as much pace as I thought there was on paper and ideally I would have liked to be behind one (with cover),” he said

“He has done everything wrong, came around the bend on the wrong leg, but I made sure he was balanced and although he waited for a bit of company he has a very big engine.

“I think he will get a mile no problem and that gives you plenty of options as he is a very nice horse.”

Yes Yes Yes, click for more info.

Affirmative Action is the first stakes-winner for Yes Yes Yes, who stands at Gooree Park Stud at a fee of $16,500.

Affirmative Action sold for $40,000 at the Inglis Weanling Sale .

Bred in Australia by Marquee Stud, Affirmative Action was a $40,000 Inglis Weanling purchase for Odyssey Bloodstock that was re-offered at Karaka Book 2 by Wentwood Grange and saod for $115,000 to Ballymore Stables / Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman.

Affirmative Action then sold for $115,000 a Karaka Book 2.

He is the first foal of Search Approach, an unraced mare by Dawn Approach (IRE) that traces back to the Fayfa branch of the Eljazzi family that has produced champion sires I Am Invincible and Kodiac as well as Pride of Dubai and Pinatubo.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Pride of Jenni Too Good for Treasurethe Moment in G2 Feehan
Pride of Jenni might be an eight year-old mare that is drawing ever closer to the end of her glorious career, but there was a sparkle in her eye before the Group II MVRC Feehan Stakes (1600m) and it was the Jenni of old that ran her rivals ragged at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Deserving Stakes Success For Splash Back (Fr)
Unlucky not to already has a stakes victory on her resume, the Grahame Begg trained French-bred Le Havre mare Splash Back (Fr) broke through on Friday night at Moonee Valley, winning the $300,000 Group 2 MVRC Stock Stakes (1500m).
30 Runners in Goffs Million!
The stage is set for Europe’s richest two-year-old race, the Goffs Million (7f), which has attracted a maximum field of 30 runners at the Curragh this Saturday and the €1 million contest, with prize money down to 10th, is only open to graduates of last year’s Goffs Orby Sale.
Toronado’s Snow Mercy Takes Out G3 Scarborough Stakes
Coming off the back of a maiden victory at Morphettville recently at just her second start, the Phillip Stokes trained Snow Mercy highlighted her future class with an impressive victory in the Group 3 MVRC Scarborough Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Expensive I Am Invincible Mare Wins G1 Manikato
The highest priced filly at the 2022 Magic Millions Yearling Sale when selling for $1.55million, I Am Invincible filly Charm Stone has been a star from day one and is now a two time Group I winner after landing her second victory at the top level with a dominant win in the $2million MVRC Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
€1.9million Sale-Topping Colt Wins G3 Somerville Stakes
The Group III Somerville Stakes (7f) was run at Newmarket overnight with the Godolphin blue carried by exciting Night of Thunder colt Distant Storm, who they purchased for a sale-topping €1.9million at the Arqana May Breeze Up Sale earlier this year.
Wootton Bassett Colt Wins G2 Stutt Stakes
The racing and breeding world was shocked earlier this week by the passing of champion sire Wootton Bassett (GB), whose talented son West of Swindon picked the right race in which to break his maiden when scoring a bold front running victory in the $300,000 Group II MVRC Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Ardrossan Filly Wins First Kiwi Juvenile Race of New Season
Otaki horseman Johno Benner has a good association with the Karaka Millions, and he could have another serious contender on his hands for January’s showpiece.
Manhattan Rain Gold Rush in WA
Geisel Park won’t be the only WA breeder on board when the first locally-conceived 2yo crop of its Group 1 sire Manhattan Rain get mobile this season.
Sires With Winners - Friday September 26
Here is the full list of 60 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.