Australian Cup the goal for Young Werther after refusing to spell after spring
Young Werther demanded to be put back into work after a one-day spell and trainer Danny O’Brien will give him another crack at a Group 1 win at Flemington in March.
Horse Racing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Group 1 performer Young Werther overruled Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Danny O’Brien when deciding the length of his spell following his spring campaign.
Young Werther posted his fifth Group 1 minor placing in the Champions Stakes at Flemington before ending the spring with a solid second in the Ballarat Cup last month.
O’Brien sent Young Werther to the spelling paddock for a rest after the gelding raced 12 times across three states in 2023.
But Young Werther was having none of it.
• Mr Brightside skips Geelong trial but ‘all systems go’
The gelding immediately refused to spell, demanding O’Brien get him back into the working routine.
“He’s a horse that hates going out for a spell,” O’Brien said.
“We put him out after the Ballarat Cup and he sulked by the gate all day so we brought him in that night.”
O’Brien and Young Werther soon worked out a compromise.
“We broke him into going out during the day for a few hours and go back into the barn,” O’Brien said.
“Once he realised he was coming in each night, he was happy to go out each day but he didn’t want to spend the whole night out there.”
• Back to the future as Ciaron Maher ponders next move
O’Brien was able to accommodate Young Werther’s quirks by using the nearby 13th Beach for training and varying the six-year-old’s routine.
The lack of a spell left Young Werther with a solid fitness base for his return to racing later this month.
The Group 1 Australian Cup is Young Werther’s main autumn aim after his third to Atishu in the Champions Stakes over the Flemington 2000m course.
“He’s in good shape,” O’Brien said.
“He’ll run in the Carlyon Cup then head toward the Australian Cup.
“He was very unlucky in the Mackinnon if you have a look at his run. He probably should have nearly won.”
Young Werther finished a sound fourth to his stablemate Sparkle in a trial at Geelong on Tuesday.
Originally published as Australian Cup the goal for Young Werther after refusing to spell after spring
Pride Of Jenni crowned Australia’s top racehorse
After dazzling Australian racing with her bold frontrunning style, superstar mare Pride Of Jenni has been crowned Australian Racehorse of the Year in Adelaide on Tuesday night.
Ottobre gives Jenni’s Cox Plate lead-up wish
Ciaron Maher has plenty of options with star mare Pride Of Jenni but owner Tony Ottobre has given his preference for her last lead-up run before the Cox Plate.