It's now quite apparent the Andy Gath-trained Yambukian wouldn’t have been out of place contesting the heats at the recent Inter Dominion carnival in Brisbane.
The form horse of Victorian harness racing notched up his fifth consecutive win at Melton when he displayed his trademark staying prowess in the Hygain Victory Free For All.
Kate Gath opted to move up outside the leader with 1600 metres to travel on Yambukian ($1.90 fav) before surging to the front past Triple Eight approaching the home turn. The son of Bettors Delight then clung on to score by a half head from Young Bluey.
When quizzed, Gath said the seven-year old’s stellar form may be attributed to a change in training routine.
“He’s done it tough every time and tends to get beat the times he’s led,” Gath said.
“I don’t really know to be honest. We kind of gallop him now at home and he’s a bit more seasoned and has had a fair bit of hard racing and he has just got better and better.”
Gath conceded Yambukian was unlucky not to get a berth on the float to Brisbane earlier this month.
“I did say to Andy before the Inters that perhaps we should be taking this one because he is so honest, he’s got gate speed and you can do whatever you want with him and he will just keep trying as he did tonight,” she said.
Gath didn’t rule out thoughts surrounding the Victoria Cup.
“Who knows at that time. You know you have to be going great, but he wouldn’t be out of his depth, would he?” she said.
Promising four-year-old mare Sweet Ideal will be aimed at the Vicbred Super Series later in the year after completing back-to-back wins at Melton.
Despite being “in season” and racing keenly mid-race, Sweet Ideal appeased favourite punters when she staved off the challenges in the home straight to score by a metre from Hez All Rock and Odin.
Driver Darryl Lawlor admitted he had slight concerns prior to and during the race.
“I was a little bit worried because she’s in season and she overraced a little bit in that first lap, and I had to grab another grip. It’s the first time over this trip and to her credit she got the job done,” Lawlor said.
Lawlor said more racing over the 2240m journey will season the daughter of Sweet Lou for the Vicbred series.
“We’ll try and go every second week over the 2240 to get her up for the Vicbred because she’ll need to relax a lot better than that to be a chance in the series,” he said.
Earlier in the night, 19-year-old Luke Dunne chalked up the first Saturday night win of his career when he led all the way on the Tori Hutchins-trained six-year-old All Da Rage.
“It’s awesome,” said Dunne, who currently sits in second place on the state concession driver premiership.
“He went to sleep in that 32 first quarter which is a bit strange for him, but I couldn’t have asked for much more from him and I’m super happy,” he said.
“It’s pleasing all round and it’s a bit of weight off the shoulders.”
Talented mare Lady Vici capped a fine training performance by Joe Vassallo when she scored a first-up win in the Aldebaran Park Trot.
Having her first outing since April last year, Lady Vici ($1.85 fav) and James Herbertson reeled in the leader Alrighty in the shadows of the post to get the verdict by a head.
The daughter of Orlando Vici has now won six of her seven career starts and Herbertson predicts a bright future for the five-year-old.