It was clear the betting public weren’t interested, but connections felt she was a good chance despite the five weeks between runs, as John McArdle’s Yum charged late to win the Listed MRC Jim Moloney Stakes (1400m), becoming the first Australian stakes winner for Darley’s Ghaiyyath (IRE).
Breaking her maiden last time out by a length at Seymour when stepping up to the 1400m for the first time, the lightly raced filly was given a barrier trial ten days ago which saw her fit and ready to go on Saturday.
With Jamie Mott allowing Yum to settle in last position, it was the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained The Playwright (Written By) who went straight to the lead where she attempted to control the race throughout.
The unbeaten race favourite Vivid Sun (The Autumn Sun) was getting a lovely run in third, with jockey Blake Shinn one of the first to make to make a move, as The Playwright turned into the final bend four lengths clear of the field.
With only two behind her, Mott started to make his move along the inside but with 300m to run but there was a wall of horses in front of her. Pulled across their heels to look for clear running, Yum came to the outside of the unbeaten Chateau Eze (GB) (Frankel) who was also starting to make her run.
Just as Chateau Eze grabbed The Playwright with 100m to go, Yum accelerated past the Daniel Stackhouse ridden filly to take the prize by three parts of a length.
Working home for third was the Tasmanian visitor Zany Girl (Needs Further) who improved from her seventh in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes last start for third here.
Securing a valuable stakes victory, Yum takes her overall record to two wins and a third placing from just four starts with earnings of $144,785.
When questioned if he was concerned about how far back in the run Yum was, trainer John McArdle knew what is filly was capable of.
“We knew she had the finish and we were quietly confident coming here,” said McArdle.
“She's shown us plenty at home.
“She trialled 10 days ago and trialled probably as good as a horse could at Mornington on the course proper. So we were happy with the filly coming here.
“I was a little bit worried when the race panned out like it did, but Jamie's got supreme confidence in her turn of foot and it was there today when we needed it."
When quizzed about her starting price, McArdle thought she would be shorter in the betting.
“I thought she was over the odds,” said McArdle.
“Five weeks between runs, we thought maybe she was a 10/1 shot but when they opened a 40/1 shot, we thought she was a little bit of overs. I know a few boys that have had something on her today and they'll be happy going forward, I would have thought.”
As to where she will head, McArdle is under no illusion that she’s a late foal, but if she holds together, she could be aimed towards Group 1 racing this time in.
“She'll head to the Edward Manifold in two weeks and then we'll make a plan from there. She is a November foal, but if she holds up, she'll head towards the Oaks,” said McArdle.
“She's a nice filly, she's bred to stay. Ken and Jen Breese are great supporters, so it was great to get a Stakes win for them and obviously Motty, he does a lot of work with them, so he knows what he's got under the hood and did the job today."
Bred by Ken and Jen Breese, Yum is the first stakes winer amongst for four winners out of the Snitzel mare Dream Food, herself a three-quarter-sister to the Listed winner Snitz (Snitzel) and a half-sister to the Group 2-winning, Group 1 placed I’ll Have A Bit (Smart Missile).
From the family of the Group 2 winner Tickle My (Perugino), a winner of 11, Dream Food was not covered the season after foaling Yum, but has since produced a filly by Pinatubo (IRE) and is due to foal this season to Kermadec (NZ).
After shuttling to Australia for four seasons, Ghaiyyath wasn’t on the plane this season, and with Yum being his sixth individual stakes winner, who knows if the four-time Group 1-winning son of Dubawi (IRE) may return in the future.
