Glen Boss: The Everest win proves enduring class of Yes Yes Yes
Glen Boss only rode Yes Yes Yes once in a race but the three-year-old left a lasting impression on the champion jockey as the racing world comes to terms with the colt’s shock retirement.
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Glen Boss only rode Yes Yes Yes once in a race but the three-year-old left a lasting impression on the champion jockey.
“I didn’t have much to do with Yes Yes Yes but I had enough to do with him to know he was a very special colt,’’ Boss said.
“Over the years, I’ve ridden some top colts like Snitzel, Fastnet Rock, Ocean Park and So You Think and Yes Yes Yes is right up with them.
“I rode him in a track gallop and he gave me goosebumps that day, and then in The Everest when he was just awesome.’’
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Yes Yes Yes smashed the Randwick 1200m track record and a world class sprinting field when he won The Everest last spring.
But the outstanding three-year-old won’t race again with trainer Chris Waller announcing the crack colt has a leg injury and will be retired to Coolmore Stud.
“There will be some who say he doesn’t have a Group 1 next to his name,’’ Boss said.
“But what I say to that is Santa Ana Lane, Trekking, Nature Strip, Pierata, Alizee, Redzel, In Her Time, Sunlight, Arcadia Queen and Ten Sovereigns, all Group 1 winners, were in The Everest field and he went past them like they were standing still. It wasn’t a fluke.’’
Yes Yes Yes became the first colt or entire to win The Everest after the gelding Redzel won the previous two runnings of the world’s richest turf race.
Waller confirmed Yes Yes Yes has been retired after the colt was found to have a tendon problem in his left front leg.
“Yes Yes Yes does not present as lame or sore, however despite it being at the minor end of the scale of a tendon injury the vet does assure me that if we were to push on with his campaign it could quickly become a more significant problem and as with any horse this cannot be contemplated,’’ Waller said.
“Explaining tendon injuries to people is never easy, however to best put into basic terms their tendons are like a rope and when the strands break but then repair they don’t join back together with the same elasticity.
“The more strands that break, the more inflammation that occurs and this results in heat and pain and the rest of the tendon is then compromised, increasing the risk of causing further problems.’’
Waller said it would require a rehabilitation program of up to 12 months to have Yes Yes Yes fit to race again – but even then there was no guarantees and it was in the best interests of the colt to retire him to stud.
“It has been a brief but amazing ride with a wonderful colt and I am sure will make a great stallion in the future given the talent and ability he possessed as a racehorse,’’ Waller said.
Coolmore Stud’s Tom Magnier said the injury to Yes Yes Yes means plans to showcase the colt on the international stage at Royal Ascot in June have been dashed.
“At Coolmore, as at Chris Waller Racing, the welfare of the horses always comes first and Yes Yes Yes can look forward to a healthy and happy stud career in the hands of horsemen equally and absolutely dedicated to his care,’’ Magnier said.
“We are certain that Yes Yes Yes takes to his new career at stud credentials that will see him succeed in transmitting to his progeny the same qualities of speed and precocity, allied with a wonderful temperament, that took him to the pinnacle of achievement on the track.’’
#Triple Group 1 winner Nature Strip, ridden by Hugh Bowman, was never extended at any stage but blitzed his rivals by nearly three lengths in a Warwick Farm barrier trial yesterday.
#Mystic Journey won’t get the chance to defend her All Star Mile title with trainer Adam Trinder withdrawing her from the race after a recent training setback.
CHANGES FOR FUNSTAR
Trainer Chris Waller has altered carnival plans for Flight Stakes winner Funstar.
“I might go the Light Fingers Stakes with her now because that filly from New Zealand, Probabeel, might be there and she is pretty forward,’’ Waller said.
“Funstar has so much speed and the Light Fingers is a pretty good race to have on her resume if she can win it and it prepares you well for the Surround Stakes – so I might bring it (comeback race) forward two weeks.’’
Meanwhile, Waller’s brilliant sprinter Nature Strip will have a crucial barrier trial at Warwick Farm on Monday morning.
MILLENNIUM AT MERCY OF SLIPPER FAV
Trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace are poised claim another Sydney two-year-old feature race with Golden Slipper favourite Cellsabeel set to start in the $2 million Inglis Millennium at Warwick Farm on Saturday.
The Maher-Eustace stable cleaned up at Randwick with Magic Millions winner Away Game racing away with the Widden Stakes before Prague maintained his unbeaten record in the Canonbury Stakes.
But as impressive as both were at Randwick, Cellsabeel is still regarded as the No.1 seed of the two-year-olds out of the Maher-Eustace stable.
Cellsabeel is the $1.60 favourite with TAB Fixed Odds to win the Inglis Millennium and the $1.16 million first prizemoney cheque for connections – but this does not count towards qualification for the Golden Slipper, run at Rosehill on March 21.
Cellsabeel has earned $124,500 from her two starts so far and will need to race again after the Inglis Millennium to secure a Golden Slipper start.
The Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill on February 22 is the most likely option.
MILLIONS WINNER TAKES ON HISTORY
Away Game will need to “do a Sebring” if she wins the Golden Slipper next month.
Maher indicated Away Game may not race again prior to the Golden Slipper which means it will be 50 days between runs since her Widden Stakes win.
Sebring (2008) also had 50 days between runs before his Slipper success.
MARQUAND CLEARED OF SERIOUS INJURY
TOM Marquand, who rode Away Game and Prague to their big-race wins, has escaped serious injury after a fall from the ill-fated Ronstar.
Marquand was taken to hospital for precautionary X-rays after complaining of soreness in his left shoulder and neck but was cleared of any breaks.
But the English riding sensation will need to pass a post-concussion medical clearance to return to the saddle this week.
Originally published as Glen Boss: The Everest win proves enduring class of Yes Yes Yes