BENDIGO stayer Weave may have gone 21 months without a win, but his trainer Anne Yates is not one for regrets or complaints.
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She knows better than anyone that the tough-as-nails seven-year-old gelding's record is more than a little misleading.
"It's definitely been a while between wins, but he is certainly very capable and has been racing in good company," Yates said in response to last season's Bendigo stayer of the year's drought-breaking win at Wodonga last week.
"Last preparation we rushed him a bit to get to the Jericho Cup (at Warrnambool) and he had to bounce through the distances pretty quickly, and we were very select with the races we targeted.
"They don't cater for staying races that well these days."
The Hard Spun-Alberghetti gelding has shown considerable promise throughout his career, almost from day one.
A 23-length last in his debut at Stawell over 1300m in March 2016 was followed by four straight seconds, before he broke his maiden at start number seven over 1300m at Tatura in December 2016.
Weave would burst to true prominence with a pair of 3000m victories at Moonee Valley in late 2017. But he would go 18 starts before posting his overdue Wodonga win.
The gelding has never been far off the winner in most of those runs between wins, being placed three times and in the top five twice more.
He was sixth in The Jericho Cup - Australia's toughest and longest staying race at 4600m.
Yates would dearly love another crack at the $292,000 feature.
Despite the long gap between wins, Yates has never lost patience or trust in the gelding.
A bargain buy at just $20,000, he has repaid his owners five times over by earning more than $200,000 from his 41 starts for six wins and 12 placings.
"He was an ex-Darley horse and his breeding alone made him a $100,000 foal; we bought him after a couple of trials," she said.
"It's been a good journey for him - he has quite a few Bendigo business people who own him.
"He has well and truly paid his way and not a lot do. Everyone would have a considerable profit. he probably should have won few more races.
"He's a horse who just gives his honest 110 per cent every start - and he's got a bit of spunk, he doesn't like to be mollycoddled."
Yates expects to target a heat of the Murray Mallee Winter Staying Series (2100m) at Swan Hill on August 26.
"It's a Vobis Gold race so it doubles in prize money, so we will keep him fresh for that and keep stepping him up to 2400m-2500m," she said.
"The big track at Swan Hill will suit - it will give him a chance to wind up and get home.
"We still believe he is going a s good ever, hopefully he another $200,000 (prize money) in him."
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