Yates tastes city success with smart stayer

Yates prepared stayer Weave – her only horse in work - to win over 3000m at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

“We’ve always thought he (Weave) would make a nice stayer, so it’s nice that he was able to confirm that,’’ Yates said.

“His full brother was a sprinter, so he (Weave) still had to prove himself.

“Our main focus this campaign was the 3000m races at Moonee Valley. We did consider running him in the Bendigo Cup, but we quickly realised they were going to be too quick for him over the 2400m.

“We bypassed Bendigo and concentrated on Moonee Valley and it worked.”

Ridden by apprentice jockey Ben Allen, Weave proved too strong for Crafty Cruiser and Cheron Warrior.

The five-year-old gelding now has four wins and eight placings from just 21 starts. He’s earned connections just shy of $100,000 in prize money.

Weave was Yates’ first city win since smart sprinter/miler Jennings won at Caulfield in January, 2009.

Jennings won two city races for Yates as did stayer Biscany back in 2000.

Yates said Weave compared favourably with Biscany.

“They’re similar horses in that they’re both clean-winded horses and once they’re fit you don’t have to do much with them to keep them going,’’ Yates said.

Biscany won two metropolitan races in a row in 2000 and Yates hopes Weave can do the same.

“There’s the exact same race over 3000m at Moonee Valley in a fortnight time, so we’ll head back there with him,’’ Yates said.

“That will be his ninth run this preparation, so I’d say we’d look to give him a break after that.”

Yates juggles horse training with managing her own business and motherhood.

“I’ve had my own business Complete Credit Management Services for the last couple of years and it’s taken long hours to set that up,’’ Yates said.

“My husband Darryn helps out with a lot of the hard work. He’s the stable foreman and rides all the trackwork, so I’ve got to give him a lot of the credit.”