TERRY Ahern had the look of a man who had just rediscovered an old friend as he watched his iron-horse Yuka Joy canter around the Pakenham Racecourse on Tuesday.
The eight-year-old mare returned to form on Saturday with an all-the-way win in the $15,000 Latrobe City Handicap (1900m) at Traralgon… and Ahern was glad to have her back to her best.
“I’m pleased to get her back because we didn’t have a good autumn, we couldn’t get her going at all,” Ahern said.
“But on analysing her form, she’s won seven races now and they’ve all been in the spring and early summer, maybe she’s just a spring and summer horse.”
Yuka Joy went on a remarkable run at the same time last year, winning three races and running seven placings in a staggeringly consistent 10-run preparation. Ahern extended his front-running mare out to 3000metres during that prep, and with runs over 1200, 1400, 1750 and 1900metres this time in it would seem the same journey beckons.
“We’re heading that way,” he said.
“Certainly (jockey) Darren Gauci is keen to get her up over the distances again but we’ll probably have one more run over the 2000, and then head to the 2500, and then possibly the 3000. We know she can run out the journey.”
Ahern said Yuka Joy was the best horse he had trained and was thrilled when she was recently awarded the title of Pakenham Horse of the Year.
“It was a great thrill – it’s an honour to win that type of award because you’ve got 60 to 70 trainers here trying to win it each year. It’s not an easy one to win, it rewards a consistent horse and that’s what she is.”
Yuka Joy’s win capped off a great week for locals, kicked off by the Belinda Simpson trained Lots of Smacks, who made the long journey to Swan Hill last Monday and duly saluted in the $15,000 Andrew Peace Hearts and Soul 0-58 Handicap (1300m).
Lots of Smacks was sent out a $2.60 favourite and settled back near the tail of the field before being eased wide at the 600-metre mark to make his run. Lots of Smacks let down well and chased hard to haul in the leaders with 50 metres to go and surged away to win by a half-length on the line.
Last Tuesday, thoroughbred racing headed to Pakenham and the locals racked up two wins and a second. The lightly raced Eight Jewels trained by Jim Dore won the McMahons Maiden Plate at his seventh career start.
Eight Jewels was sent out at $5.50, and settled well back in the field before local hoop Brian Werner pushed the go button and the 500-metre mark. Eight Jewels made steady ground to be just off the lead on straightening before finishing powerfully in the straight.
Trainer Dean Grass then produced five-year-gelding Bel Setoro in race five – the sprint over 1000 metres – and after jumping well, he sat outside the lead before surging clear to set up a winning break on the turn.
Pakenham has a couple of big meetings coming up with the Pakenham Gazette Oaks Day on tomorrow (Thursday) with gates opening from 11am and this will be followed up latter in the month with a Christmas Party Race Day on Friday 29 November.
For more information on either of these meetings visit – www.pakenhamracing.com.au
